'New version of Chinese exclusion act': Beijing slams plan to revoke student visas

China slams US after Rubio said revoking visas for Chinese students

China has strongly criticized the United States for "unreasonable" revocation of visas for Chinese students, denouncing the move as ideologically driven. Beijing has said that it officially lodged a diplomatic protest.

The response came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would be “aggressively” revoking visas for Chinese students.

“The US has unreasonably cancelled Chinese students’ visas under the pretext of ideology and national security,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. “China firmly opposes this and has lodged formal representations with the US.”

In response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that the US will revoke visas for Chinese students, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that China has lodged representations with the US side. This political and discriminatory action pic.twitter.com/e7pG6LRE00

Global Times (@globaltimesnews) May 29, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a new policy targeting Chinese students, stating that the United States will "aggressively revoke visas" of individuals with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or those pursuing studies in strategically sensitive areas.

“The US will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields," Rubio posted on X.

Also read: Why US is planning to 'aggressively' revoke visas of Chinese students?

This move comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, and a sharp decline in Chinese student enrollment in the US. The number of Chinese students dropped to approximately 277,000 in 2024, compared to a peak of 370,000 in 2019, as American authorities intensify scrutiny of academic and political affiliations.

Linqin, a Chinese student at Johns Hopkins University, described the U.S. visa revocation policy as a "new version of the Chinese Exclusion Act," according to The Indian Express.

Referencing the 19th-century law that barred Chinese immigration, he added, “Wednesday was the first time I thought about leaving the US after spending one-third of my life here.”

The announcement came after Trump administration took the decision of barring Harvard University from admitting foreign students a step that has been temporarily halted by a federal judge while a legal challenge proceeds.