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Chinese students risk harassment by US law enforcement agencies, embassy says
- ‘Random investigations, nuisance or confiscation of personal belongings’ have risen, Chinese embassy in the US says on its website
- US state department on Wednesday accused the Chinese military of sending students to American universities to gain warfare advantages
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China has warned its citizens studying in the United States of potential harassment as Washington tightens its scrutiny of them over espionage concerns.
“Recently there has been a sharp increase in cases in which the US law enforcement agencies carried out random investigations, nuisance or confiscation of personal belongings against Chinese students in the US,” the Chinese embassy in the US said in a brief notice on its website.
No specific cases were given, but the notice said Chinese students should raise their awareness and could seek help from the embassy and consulates if necessary.
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It is estimated that there are more than 370,000 Chinese students in the US, representing the country’s single largest foreign student population.
01:25
US colleges face US$15 billion hit as Chinese students stay away amid coronavirus pandemic
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Some Chinese students have found themselves caught up in the escalating confrontations between Beijing and Washington. The Donald Trump administration has warned of potential national security threats posed by the students, especially those who work in science and technology fields and have links to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s military.
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