According to CNN, the Trump administration will "aggressively" revoke visas for Chinese students currently studying in the US.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement saying visa standards would be revised to strengthen the vetting process for future applicants from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong.
On May 27, Rubio revealed that the US government is considering requiring all international student visa applicants to undergo social media background checks. To prepare for this policy, US embassies and consulates worldwide have been instructed to temporarily suspend new interviews for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning addressed the issue during a regular press briefing on May 29.
Mao strongly criticized the move, stating that the US has unjustly canceled Chinese students' visas under the pretext of ideology and national security.
"This action severely infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and disrupts normal cultural exchanges between the two countries," Mao said. She added that China firmly opposes this decision and has lodged a formal protest with the US.
Mao further condemned the policy as a politically motivated and discriminatory act that exposes the hypocrisy of the US's self-proclaimed values of "freedom and openness." She warned that such actions would only further damage America's international reputation and national credibility.
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