Accusations flew on Monday as China condemned the United States for what it described as the unjust deportation of Chinese students without sufficient evidence, prompting warnings of decisive action to protect its citizens' interests.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, expressed concern during a media briefing, accusing the US of stretching the bounds of national security to cancel visas and ban Chinese students without credible proof. Mao pointed to incidents at Washington Dulles Airport and Dallas Airport, where Chinese students and scholars allegedly faced interrogation and deportation, severely disrupting bilateral exchanges.
Mao emphasized the arbitrary nature of US actions, branding them as selective and politically motivated. "China stands ready to defend the rights of its citizens," Mao declared, urging the US to cease unwarranted harassment.
Chinese Ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, echoed these sentiments, alleging a surge in denials of entry to Chinese travelers, including students, despite possessing valid visas and clean records. He described harrowing experiences of interrogation lasting up to eight hours, with officers leveling baseless accusations and preventing communication with family.
Interestingly, despite these tensions, reports from the US Department of Homeland Security revealed a shift in demographics, with Indian students surpassing Chinese enrollments in American educational institutions last year. While Chinese officials attributed this decline to a deteriorating environment in the US regarding scientific knowledge, the overall number of international students continued to rise, reaching 320,000 last year.
Read also | IDF Shifts Focus to Rafah Following Conclusion of Khan Yunis Operations
