https://www.scmp.com/rss/330806/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jane Cai Jane Cai Hong Kong universities are rapidly gaining favour among mainland Chinese families as they shun the intense domestic competition of the gaokao and uncertainties stemming from Sino-US tensions, embracing the city’s generous non-local admission quotas. The Blue Book on Mainland Students Studying in Hong Kong released late last month underscores this trend, attributing it to geographic proximity, cultural familiarity, and pragmatic considerations regarding career prospects and residency planning,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3352283/mainland-students-turn-hong-kong-universities-amid-gaokao-us-visa-worries?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3352283/mainland-students-turn-hong-kong-universities-amid-gaokao-us-visa-worries?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 02:00:22 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. On behalf of California Scholars for Academic Freedom, an organisation of over 200 scholars in higher education in California dedicated to the defence of academic freedom, we would like to draw attention to cases involving Chinese scholars associated with the University of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351872/university-michigan-must-stand-its-chinese-scholars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351872/university-michigan-must-stand-its-chinese-scholars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:04:09 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin Yoyo Yue has spent much of her life navigating the complex US immigration system. The 31-year-old Chinese content creator moved from China to a US boarding school, went to university, secured an H-1B visa and later a “green card” – a path long considered the “gold standard” for skilled foreign workers. Now, she said, that path felt far less certain. “The H-1B path today comes with significant uncertainty, not just around job stability, but also around long-term prospects,” Yue said. US President... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351544/why-tougher-us-visa-rules-skilled-foreign-workers-may-end-exodus-asia-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3351544/why-tougher-us-visa-rules-skilled-foreign-workers-may-end-exodus-asia-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin The US visa system rolls out the “red carpet” for spies and aids China’s alleged efforts to steal American innovation, senators charged at a congressional hearing on Wednesday, as Washington and Beijing intensify competition for dominance in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. Through its permissive legal channels, the US is “inviting, welcoming, come on in with the red carpet rolled out” people who steal military and commercial secrets, Republican Senator Ashley Moody of Florida... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3351062/us-visa-system-rolls-out-red-carpet-chinese-spies-congressional-hearing-told?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:37:28 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Beijing intervened and helped get charges dropped against three Chinese scientists at the University of Michigan who were accused of helping a colleague smuggle biological materials into the US, defence lawyers said. The materials turned out to be mostly tiny, transparent worms – nothing dangerous – though US officials last year hailed the arrests as a victory for national security. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the government must be vigilant when foreign nationals try to “advance a malicious... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344673/us-drops-charges-against-chinese-scientists-smuggling-worms-after-diplomatic-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344673/us-drops-charges-against-chinese-scientists-smuggling-worms-after-diplomatic-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:07:19 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han Enrolment at Harvard for Chinese students rose in the autumn from a year earlier, even as the Donald Trump administration moved to rein in visas for them and limit foreign enrolment and funding at the prestigious university. The number of students from mainland China rose from 1,390 in autumn 2024 to 1,452 in autumn 2025 – an increase of 4.5 per cent – according to Harvard data released on Friday. Hong Kong student enrolment rose from 68 to 73, while enrolment from Macau, which is in the single... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339794/chinese-student-numbers-harvard-rise-despite-trump-visa-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3339794/chinese-student-numbers-harvard-rise-despite-trump-visa-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:55:24 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Top-level talks between Chinese and Japanese diplomats ended without consensus on Tuesday, dimming hopes for an end to a row over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments on the Taiwan Strait. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Asian affairs department chief Liu Jinsong told his Japanese counterpart, Masaaki Kanai, that Takaichi must retract her suggestion from earlier this month that a crisis in the strait would allow Tokyo to deploy its self-defence forces. “[The comments]... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333216/japan-urges-citizens-china-be-wary-row-over-takaichis-comments-escalates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3333216/japan-urges-citizens-china-be-wary-row-over-takaichis-comments-escalates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:15:05 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han Chinese student numbers in the United States have continued to decline over the past year, but they remain the second-largest student group after Indians and the biggest contributors to the US economy, according to new data released on Monday. A total of 265,919 Chinese studied in the US in the 2024-25 academic year, marking a four per cent decrease from the previous academic year, according to the latest annual survey of higher education institutions by the Institute of International Education... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332899/chinese-student-numbers-us-continue-fall-gap-indian-scholars-widens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3332899/chinese-student-numbers-us-continue-fall-gap-indian-scholars-widens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 05:01:08 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan Few moments in US history have tested academic freedom as much as the present, with US President Donald Trump’s administration releasing a 10-point Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. What started as bureaucratic proposals have hardened into a national doctrine tying federal funding to political conformity. It is changing the nature of US universities and reshaping international education options. The plan, initially sent to nine universities, proposed conformity with certain... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330793/how-hong-kong-can-capitalise-trumps-attacks-us-universities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3330793/how-hong-kong-can-capitalise-trumps-attacks-us-universities?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A University of Southern California graduate student who police have said was a serial sexual predator has been charged with drugging and raping multiple women as investigators look for additional victims, Los Angeles authorities said. Weng Sizhe, a 30-year-old Chinese national also known as Steven Weng, was arrested August 28, though the district attorney and police just released statements about the case on Wednesday. Weng has pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts including forcible rape... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3329175/usc-phd-student-weng-sizhe-charged-multiple-rapes-and-drugging-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3329175/usc-phd-student-weng-sizhe-charged-multiple-rapes-and-drugging-women?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:05:23 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China hit out on Thursday at a US congressional report that accused it of exploiting American higher education institutions for military research. The foreign ministry said China had lodged “stern representations” with the United States over the “malicious actions” of the select committee that produced the report. Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the ministry, told a regular press briefing that the House China committee had long attacked and smeared China for political purposes and had “no... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328404/china-hits-out-malicious-report-says-it-used-us-universities-boost-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3328404/china-hits-out-malicious-report-says-it-used-us-universities-boost-military?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 11:17:17 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han Nasa has barred Chinese nationals on US visas from its facilities and networks, in the latest reflection of Washington’s mounting concern over Beijing’s progress in space and other advanced technologies. Although the space agency has typically restricted the employment of Chinese citizens, those on US visas without affiliations with Chinese government institutions or state-owned companies have been able to contribute as contractors, graduate students, or university scientists. On Wednesday, Nasa... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3325104/nasa-blocks-chinese-citizens-us-visas-its-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/science-technology/article/3325104/nasa-blocks-chinese-citizens-us-visas-its-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:11:44 +0000 Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan Fan Chen,Khushboo Razdan China’s embassy in the United States has warned against a new round of “media warfare” as Washington moves to cut the duration of visas for Chinese journalists. “We do not want to see a new round of ‘media warfare’ between the two countries and urge the US to refrain from taking this erroneous move,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said on Tuesday. As part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration, the US Department of Homeland Security proposed in August to cap the stay of mainland Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325032/china-says-shorter-us-visa-mainland-journalists-risks-media-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325032/china-says-shorter-us-visa-mainland-journalists-risks-media-warfare?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Ever since China’s opening up, the United States has been the first choice of mainland Chinese students for an overseas education. It is therefore good that President Donald Trump proposes admitting 600,000 Chinese students, more than double the number now. But the US student visa system remains clouded by flip-flops and mixed messages that create uncertainty for students and universities. They include an overhaul that might limit the duration of visas and tighten background and social media... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3324634/more-clarity-trump-us-student-visas-would-be-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3324634/more-clarity-trump-us-student-visas-would-be-welcome?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:15:14 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han While US President Donald Trump this week said he would allow 600,000 Chinese students into the United States, members of Congress in his Republican Party are increasingly moving to dismantle many of the long-standing partnerships that would make their arrival possible. On the day Trump said the US would welcome more Chinese students, Temple University in Philadelphia announced it was ending its partnership with the China Scholarship Council, the main Chinese government body funding study abroad... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3323734/trump-welcomes-chinese-students-schools-cut-ties-under-republican-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3323734/trump-welcomes-chinese-students-schools-cut-ties-under-republican-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:13:01 +0000 Orange Wang Orange Wang The United States has identified China as the “top threat” in a report on espionage targeting universities and technology. Some Chinese analysts warned that the report – which said “no nation has targeted Western research, science, and technology as aggressively as China” – could have a “chilling effect” on people-to-people and academic exchanges. The report, compiled by the National Counterintelligence and Security Centre, alongside the Department of Education and other federal bodies, was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323452/us-report-chinese-spy-threat-universities-may-have-chilling-effect-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323452/us-report-chinese-spy-threat-universities-may-have-chilling-effect-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan Beijing’s top diplomat in Washington on Wednesday warned against undermining of people-to-people relations just hours after the US government proposed a sweeping revamp of visa rules for foreign students, scholars and media citing national security risks. “Going forward, we need to bring our people closer, rather than sow fear and hostility,” China’s ambassador to the US Xie Feng said during an event commemorating Chinese and American soldiers who fought together for Allied forces during World... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323416/chinese-envoy-warns-against-sowing-fear-and-hostility-us-plans-visa-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323416/chinese-envoy-warns-against-sowing-fear-and-hostility-us-plans-visa-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 01:51:32 +0000 Reuters Reuters The Trump administration aims to tighten the duration of visas for students, cultural exchange visitors and members of the media, according to a proposed government regulation issued on Wednesday, part of a broader crackdown on legal immigration. US President Donald Trump, a Republican, kicked off a wide-ranging immigration crackdown after taking office in January. The latest move would create new hurdles for international students, exchange workers and foreign journalists who would have to... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3323408/trump-admin-moves-tighten-duration-visas-students-and-media?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3323408/trump-admin-moves-tighten-duration-visas-students-and-media?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:36:39 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan US President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his proposal to admit hundreds of thousands of Chinese students, saying the US is “honoured” to host them and warning that the American college system would “go to hell” without them. Facing growing anger from his political base, Trump dismissed criticism of the plan as “insulting” and pointed to his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of a broader strategy of engagement. “We’re getting along very well with China, and I’m getting... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3323255/trump-base-erupts-over-his-move-admit-thousands-more-chinese-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/diplomacy/article/3323255/trump-base-erupts-over-his-move-admit-thousands-more-chinese-students?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 18:29:29 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen US President Donald Trump said he would allow 600,000 Chinese students to enter the United States which is double the current figure, and reiterated that President Xi Jinping had invited him “to come to China”. The significant shift in tone from the US government came soon after the Chinese embassy in the US advised students to “be cautious when choosing” Houston as their destination when entering America, saying some students have been “unjustifiably questioned and harassed” recently. On... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323156/trump-says-he-will-allow-600000-chinese-study-us-double-current-number?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3323156/trump-says-he-will-allow-600000-chinese-study-us-double-current-number?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:20:50 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service All five people killed in a tour bus crash in upstate New York on Friday afternoon have been identified, authorities said on Saturday. The victims include a Columbia University student, three New Jersey residents and one Indian national, according to New York State Police. They were identified as Xie Hongzhuo, a 22-year-old Columbia student originally from Beijing; Pinki Changrani, 60, of East Brunswick, New Jersey; Zhang Xiaolan, 55, and Jian Mingli, 56, both from Jersey City; and Shankar Kumar... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3322949/columbia-student-xie-hongzhuo-beijing-among-5-killed-new-york-tour-bus-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3322949/columbia-student-xie-hongzhuo-beijing-among-5-killed-new-york-tour-bus-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 23:53:22 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen Beijing has lashed out at the United States for questioning Chinese students at the border, accusing it of discrimination and of taking them into “small, dark rooms” for over 70 hours. Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, said on Friday that these actions “seriously infringed upon the legitimate and legal rights and interests of Chinese citizens, severely obstructed normal personnel exchanges between the two countries, and seriously undermined the atmosphere for people-to-people and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322866/beijing-accuses-us-holding-chinese-students-small-dark-rooms-over-70-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3322866/beijing-accuses-us-holding-chinese-students-small-dark-rooms-over-70-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:00:09 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier The US has sentenced a Chinese national to eight years in prison for illegally exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military items to North Korea via Hong Kong in return for US$2 million in payments from Pyongyang “for his efforts”, the Justice Department said on Tuesday. Taking advantage of lax US gun laws, Shenghua Wen, 42, purchased many of the weapons in Texas and drove them to California, where they were shipped out of the Port of Long Beach, according to court documents. At least one... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3322431/us-sentences-chinese-national-eight-years-smuggling-arms-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3322431/us-sentences-chinese-national-eight-years-smuggling-arms-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:24:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press In the latest in a series of Trump administration inquiries targeting Harvard University, the US State Department said on Wednesday that it was investigating whether the Ivy League school would remain part of a government programme that provides American visas for students and researchers from other countries. Harvard has faced mounting sanctions and scrutiny from Washington since rejecting demands from a federal antisemitism task force in April. Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging US$2.6... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319342/trump-admin-investigates-harvard-eligibility-foreign-scholar-visa-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3319342/trump-admin-investigates-harvard-eligibility-foreign-scholar-visa-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 17:16:39 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen Beijing has warned Chinese students planning to study in the Philippines of safety risks for Chinese nationals, amid tensions over the South China Sea. In a statement on Friday, China’s Ministry of Education urged students to “carefully assess security risks” and “strengthen safety awareness” before heading to the Southeast Asian country. “Recently, public security in the Philippines has been unstable, with frequent crimes targeting Chinese citizens. The Ministry of Education reminds all... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3318691/amid-south-china-sea-dispute-china-warns-students-beware-safety-risks-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3318691/amid-south-china-sea-dispute-china-warns-students-beware-safety-risks-philippines?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The University of Michigan is under federal scrutiny after two Chinese scientists linked to the school were separately charged with smuggling biological materials into the United States. The US Education Department on Tuesday opened an investigation into the university’s foreign funding, citing the pair of cases that were announced days apart in June. It said the “highly disturbing criminal charges” raise concerns about Michigan’s vulnerability to national security threats from China. “Despite... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318359/university-michigan-investigated-after-2-chinese-scientists-charged-bio-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318359/university-michigan-investigated-after-2-chinese-scientists-charged-bio-smuggling?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:34:35 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han Representative John Moolenaar, the head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, is calling on seven American universities, including Dartmouth College, to reconsider partnerships with a Chinese scholarship organisation. The move is the latest congressional attempt to curb the flow of Chinese students to the US over national security concerns. Since taking over as chair of the committee, Moolenaar, a Michigan Republican, has made ending US-China partnerships a priority. In... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317605/republicans-urge-us-schools-drop-nefarious-chinese-scholarship-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317605/republicans-urge-us-schools-drop-nefarious-chinese-scholarship-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:09:55 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Miya Zheng once aimed to earn a master’s degree when she first arrived in the United States for her undergraduate studies. But now, three years later, the Chinese national has shifted her sights halfway across the world – to Singapore. “After staying here for some time, I realised that this isn’t quite the right place for me in the long run,” said Zheng, who is majoring in economics and statistics in the US and aspires to work outside China after graduating. She has faced increasing hurdles as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317302/us-drops-among-chinese-study-preferences-singapore-beckons-status-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3317302/us-drops-among-chinese-study-preferences-singapore-beckons-status-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Mia Nulimaimaiti Mia Nulimaimaiti After finishing her master’s degree in education last December, Harley Hu began looking for a full-time job in the United Kingdom. The search proved to be far more gruelling than she had expected. “I sent out maybe 200 or 300 CVs,” the 25-year-old told the Post. “It took half a year to find something stable.” After six months of juggling part-time work as a Chinese language tutor, Hu has now secured a full-time role in teaching. But the job only provides a temporary respite, as her employer does... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316972/chinese-graduates-struggle-compete-harsh-uk-job-market-its-harder-us?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3316972/chinese-graduates-struggle-compete-harsh-uk-job-market-its-harder-us?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse US President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed the importance of aggressive actions linked to Beijing including recent arrests of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous pathogen into the United States, saying “that’s the way the world works”. Trump told Fox News that Washington behaves in a similar way. “You don’t think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things,” he said on the Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo show. “That’s the way the world works. It’s a nasty... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316303/trump-says-getting-along-well-china-downplays-hostile-acts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3316303/trump-says-getting-along-well-china-downplays-hostile-acts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Jun 2025 22:38:13 +0000 Mia Nulimaimaiti Mia Nulimaimaiti Mark Lin had always dreamed of a career in the arts. As he finished his fine arts degree at a top London university in 2020, he began applying for dozens of roles at galleries, agencies and dealers across the capital. But the British economy was still reeling after months of pandemic lockdowns, and Lin hit a brick wall. After weeks of effort, he had an inbox full of rejection emails but not a single callback – and he was rapidly running out of money. That is when Lin decided to take a leap of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315245/chinese-graduates-uk-turn-gig-work-amid-job-crunch-it-helps-me-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3315245/chinese-graduates-uk-turn-gig-work-amid-job-crunch-it-helps-me-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US President Donald Trump said his administration has been working closely with Harvard University and may announce a deal over the next week, potentially ending a stand-off between the White House and the richest and oldest US university. “They have acted extremely appropriately during these negotiations, and appear to be committed to doing what is right,” Trump said Friday on social media. “If a Settlement is made on the basis that is currently being discussed, it will be ‘mindbogglingly’... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3315309/trump-says-he-may-soon-strike-mindbogglingly-historic-deal-harvard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3315309/trump-says-he-may-soon-strike-mindbogglingly-historic-deal-harvard?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:59:30 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press The US State Department said on Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. In a notice made public on Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3314982/us-resumes-visas-foreign-students-demands-access-social-media-accounts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3314982/us-resumes-visas-foreign-students-demands-access-social-media-accounts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 21:16:44 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han A federal judge in Boston on Monday said she would extend legal relief to Harvard University in its fight against the Donald Trump administration’s effort to halt the entry of Harvard students coming in from overseas. In a court hearing, US District Judge Allison Burroughs said she would extend until June 23 a temporary restraining order she issued a day after Trump unveiled a proclamation seeking to prevent Harvard’s international students from entering the country. The order would be in place... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314661/judge-extends-order-against-trump-bid-block-us-entry-harvards-foreign-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3314661/judge-extends-order-against-trump-bid-block-us-entry-harvards-foreign-students?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:28:12 +0000 Carl Zhang,Edith Mao Carl Zhang,Edith Mao For two decades, it was popular for many Chinese families to send their children on “study tours” overseas – most often to the United States – during the summer. The programmes generally involved summer camps jointly organised by American universities and language institutions, as well as visits to colleges, museums and tourist attractions. In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, around 1.3 million Chinese students spent part of their summer holidays studying overseas, according to a report by... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3314463/end-summer-us-study-trips-chinese-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3314463/end-summer-us-study-trips-chinese-children?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Two University of Michigan scholars from China accused of smuggling biological material into the US agreed on Friday to be jailed without bond while their criminal cases are pending in federal court. The decision by Han Chengxuan and Jian Yunqing came amid concerns that the Chinese nationals would flee the US if released on bond while facing criminal charges. That concern has increased in the two weeks since prosecutors charged another Chinese national studying at UM, 19-year-old Haoxiang Gao,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3314413/chinese-scholars-accused-smuggling-biological-material-us-agree-stay-jail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3314413/chinese-scholars-accused-smuggling-biological-material-us-agree-stay-jail?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:41:03 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan Four months into his second term, US President Donald Trump has launched a high-stakes campaign against three pillars of American society: mainstream media, elite universities and the nation’s most influential law firms. Through lawsuits, executive orders and threats to funding, he has exerted unprecedented pressure on many institutions, sparking debate about whether his actions signify genuine reform or personal vendettas. Critics argue that these confrontations reflect a desire to settle old... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3314013/trump-hits-out-critics-damage-america-may-go-far-deeper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3314013/trump-hits-out-critics-damage-america-may-go-far-deeper?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin Another Chinese researcher has been arrested upon entering the United States, amid an escalating federal probe into the alleged smuggling of biological materials – marking the second such case in less than a week. Han Chengxuan, a PhD candidate at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, was accused of shipping four undeclared packages containing biological materials from China to a University of Michigan lab—and lying to federal agents about it. Her arrest on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3313764/us-arrests-another-chinese-scientist-no-permit-send-biological-material?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3313764/us-arrests-another-chinese-scientist-no-permit-send-biological-material?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:52:26 +0000 Mia Nulimaimaiti Mia Nulimaimaiti After she graduated last summer, Aroma Wu quickly realised that if she wanted a career in China’s tech industry, she would need to go back to school: her bachelor’s degree simply was not enough. “I saw how competitive it was – most people had a master’s,” the 24-year-old said. To boost her credentials, Wu decided to apply for a graduate programme in the United Kingdom, and she soon received an offer. But within weeks, she was growing worried by news coming out of Britain – and starting to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313343/chinese-students-reconsider-uk-degrees-fees-rise-visa-rules-tighten?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3313343/chinese-students-reconsider-uk-degrees-fees-rise-visa-rules-tighten?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 12:00:08 +0000 Vanessa Cai Vanessa Cai China has condemned “political manipulation” by the United States and its “overstretched concept of national security”, days after two Chinese researchers were charged with illegally importing a toxic fungus described by US authorities as a “dangerous biological pathogen”. The Chinese Consulate in Chicago said in a statement on Saturday that it was seeking information about the case and had lodged a “stern representation” with the US side. This comes after the US Department of Justice announced... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313499/china-slams-us-political-manipulation-research-pair-face-fungus-smuggling-charge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313499/china-slams-us-political-manipulation-research-pair-face-fungus-smuggling-charge?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:00:16 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press To attract the brightest minds to America, President Donald Trump proposed a novel idea while campaigning: If elected, he would grant green cards to all foreign students who graduate from US colleges. “It’s so sad when we lose people from Harvard, MIT, from the greatest schools,” Trump said during a podcast interview last June. “That is going to end on Day One.” That promise never came to pass. Trump’s stance on welcoming foreign students has shifted dramatically. International students have... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3313479/trumps-america-foreign-students-have-become-expendable-after-broken-promise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3313479/trumps-america-foreign-students-have-become-expendable-after-broken-promise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 07:28:37 +0000 Alexander Görlach Alexander Görlach Growing up in West Germany in the 1980s, America was omnipresent. Aside from Hollywood and Coca-Cola, there was one US brand that stood out: Harvard. The university’s name stood on a par with the highest echelons of knowledge. In high school, we learned about Ivy League institutions and, like other nerdy kids across the planet, I dreamed about being a student at Harvard and being immersed in deep conversations about the most crucial questions concerning human existence. Fast forward 20-something... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3313050/harvard-trumps-mind-bears-little-resemblance-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3313050/harvard-trumps-mind-bears-little-resemblance-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Bochen Han Bochen Han More than 700 American scholars of China have signed a petition urging US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to pause moves to impose visa restrictions against Chinese students. The petition sent to America’s top diplomat on Friday comes about a week after he announced the State Department would “aggressively” revoke visas of Chinese students, including those with “connections” to China’s Communist Party and in “critical fields” as well as apply extra scrutiny to future applicants from mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3313448/over-700-american-scholars-china-urge-marco-rubio-pause-visa-constraints-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3313448/over-700-american-scholars-china-urge-marco-rubio-pause-visa-constraints-students?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:52:38 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang Controversy surrounding a speech given by a Chinese Harvard graduate reflects the Chinese public’s “disillusionment” with elite education and “anger at class rigidity”, according to a Chinese academic. Last week, Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, a Chinese Harvard University graduate, delivered a controversial speech amid the ongoing clash between the university and the White House, and uncertainty over United States-China relations. Jiang was the first Chinese woman selected as the student speaker at a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3313176/harvard-speech-chinese-graduate-exposes-class-disillusionment-and-education-gap-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3313176/harvard-speech-chinese-graduate-exposes-class-disillusionment-and-education-gap-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:00:17 +0000 Kawala Xie Kawala Xie China has pledged to “firmly safeguard” the interests of its students following US President Donald Trump’s ban on international enrolment at Harvard University. Citing the institution’s failure to address national security risks on campus, Trump announced in a proclamation on Wednesday night that he would immediately block the Ivy League school from enrolling new international students or exchange visitors, while also ordering the State Department to review whether current foreign enrolments... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313129/trump-orders-immediate-ban-new-chinese-and-other-foreign-students-harvard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3313129/trump-orders-immediate-ban-new-chinese-and-other-foreign-students-harvard?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 04:19:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Every time I talk to my Chinese friends at Harvard, I hear the same worry: “Will I be able to visit my family this summer – and will I be allowed back to finish my degree?” These are talented... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3312832/fear-driven-us-policy-chinese-students-sends-wrong-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3312832/fear-driven-us-policy-chinese-students-sends-wrong-message?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Jun 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Kawala Xie Kawala Xie Emotional remarks by a Chinese student who delivered this year’s Harvard University commencement speech have sparked a debate in China about barriers to elite education. The speech by Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, the first Chinese woman chosen as Harvard’s student commencement speaker, called for global unity amid US President Donald Trump’s plan to “aggressively” revoke Chinese student visas. Internet users have since raised questions about a lack of access for many ordinary students who have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312931/privilege-or-merit-harvard-speech-ignites-china-debate-elite-education-access?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312931/privilege-or-merit-harvard-speech-ignites-china-debate-elite-education-access?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 22:00:19 +0000 Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Favourable views towards China globally have surpassed those towards the United States for the first time in recent years, a change that occurred between January and late April, according to US intelligence company Morning Consult. By the end of May, China had an 8.8 net favourability rating, compared to -1.5 for the US – which is in stark contrast to January last year when the US rating was above 20 and China was in negative territory, Axios reported on Monday, citing exclusive data acquired... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3312932/china-lifts-public-opinion-around-world-us-drops-trump-20-survey-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3312932/china-lifts-public-opinion-around-world-us-drops-trump-20-survey-data-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:00:28 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo The Trump administration’s recent moves to further restrict Chinese students’ access to US education are sending ripples of doubt through families in China, prompting many to reconsider their children’s academic futures abroad. For some, the American dream is giving way to more pragmatic alternatives closer to home or in other Western nations, as the United States’ unpredictable approach to international students makes them ponder the returns on investment in their children’s overseas... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312489/us-hostility-chinese-students-prompts-many-parents-look-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3312489/us-hostility-chinese-students-prompts-many-parents-look-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Kawala Xie Kawala Xie A Chinese student’s graduation speech at Harvard University emphasising “shared humanity” and calling for global unity has gone viral, days after the Trump administration pledged to “aggressively” revoke the visas of students from China. Yurong “Luanna” Jiang is the first Chinese woman selected to be the student speaker at a Harvard graduation ceremony. Her emotional speech on Thursday was delivered on the same day that a federal judge blocked a Department of Homeland Security order seeking to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312655/harvard-chinese-students-graduation-speech-strikes-chord-trump-leads-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3312655/harvard-chinese-students-graduation-speech-strikes-chord-trump-leads-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Jun 2025 12:52:39 +0000