US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on May 28, “Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China” and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
This follows the Trump administration’s dispute with Harvard University, which has led to the revocation of international student admissions and disqualifications from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Such actions are illegal, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the ban. However, the legal battle between Harvard and the US government is expected to be long and arduous.
This action is merely a continuation of US efforts, following the imposition of tariffs, to suppress China’s rise. It reminds me of the classic Chinese military idiom: “inflicting 800 enemy casualties at the cost of 1,000 of your own”. This will be yet another example of Trump acting impulsively without considering the broader implications, especially the likely collateral damage.
First, there will be significant economic losses for the US. According to the 2024 annual report from the Institute of International Education, there were 1.1 million international students in the US for the 2023-24 academic year, with Chinese students making up the second-largest group at 277,398 — about a quarter of the total. Tuition fees for international students are substantial; for example, at Harvard, it will cost a foreign student $87,000 this upcoming school year. In 2023, these 1.1 million international students contributed approximately $50 billion to the US economy through tuition and living expenses. With Chinese students accounting for a quarter of this, their absence would result in a loss of over $12 billion annually. This would also be a financial blow to many US universities that rely on their tuition to survive.
Second, most Chinese students are enrolled in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects at US universities, enhancing the resources available for STEM education and research. This is particularly true for the thousands of Chinese PhD students engaged in scientific research with their professors. Their departure will undoubtedly disrupt ongoing research and hinder scientific progress in the US, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, and biomedical innovation. This could diminish the US’ academic standing and competitiveness in these crucial technological sectors.
Third, the US risks losing its reputation as a leader in global education. Historically, the US has maintained its academic dominance by attracting talent from around the world and respecting academic freedom. Suppressing Chinese students undermines these principles, and, combined with the Trump administration’s hostility toward Palestine sympathizers, is likely to deter international student enrollment in the coming terms.
Indeed, there are currently few incentives for Chinese students to enroll in US universities. With ongoing uncertainties, there are no guarantees they can complete their studies, and even if they graduate, few employers would risk hiring them, as they could be arrested by the FBI and deported at any time.
In any case, the US is no longer a safe place to study. High crime rates, frequent campus shootings, widespread drug abuse, and racial discrimination contribute to an atmosphere of insecurity. The police are often perceived as incompetent and corrupt, leaving parents feeling uneasy about sending their children to study in the US.
However, this situation presents a golden opportunity for Hong Kong. As Asia’s academic hub, Hong Kong boasts five universities among the world’s top 100. In light of the Harvard discombobulation, several Hong Kong universities have swiftly announced unconditional admission programs for affected Harvard students, providing full assistance with the application process and comprehensive logistical support, including accommodation and visa assistance. Such arrangements should now be extended to all affected Chinese students in the US.
In collaboration with the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong universities should also recruit more discriminated top Chinese professors from the US, particularly those who hold key positions in US universities. Many of these professors are already returning to China; for example, award-winning materials scientist Li Yongxi, formerly an associate research scientist at the University of Michigan, has accepted a position at Nanjing University. Top neuroscientist Dan Yang has also moved from the US to become a senior principal investigator at the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation. The HKSAR should work with the mainland to share these elite returnees.
Most importantly, efforts should focus on attracting Chinese PhD students engaged in scientific research at US universities. Hong Kong universities can promise sufficient funding to enable these students to continue their research. This high-level research would significantly contribute to establishing Hong Kong as a premier technological research hub.
Hong Kong must seize this opportunity to become a leading global academic center. The HKSAR government should accelerate the university city project in the Northern Metropolis. An urgent task force should be established to capitalize on this transformative opportunity.
The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and Hong Kong Metropolitan University, and a council member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
