African students have traded academic institutions in the West for Chinese alternatives. The Trump administration’s clampdown on international students and visas could accelerate the shift.
A Harvard graduate, a doctor and an actress have been at the center of social media storms over perceived privilege. Some see economic anxiety behind it.
Even before the U.S. threatened to bar international students and besieged universities, China’s huge spending campaign on the sciences was bearing fruit.
Protecting the borders from espionage is essential. It’s something else to deny students because they are Chinese and hope to pursue a STEM degree in the United States.
The 1970s era of academic exchange began as a form of diplomacy. “People were curious about us, inviting us to their homes,” one former student remembers.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the students who will have their visas canceled include people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and those studying in “critical fields.”
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