China Protests Treatment of Its Students at US Entry Points

The Chinese government has lodged a formal protest with the United States regarding the treatment of Chinese students traveling to study in America. According to Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador in Washington, dozens of Chinese students have been subjected to lengthy interrogations, electronic device inspections, and, in some cases, forced deportation upon arrival in the U.S. Xie Feng expressed his concerns during an event at the Chinese Embassy, citing instances where Chinese students were denied entry, interrogated for up to eight hours, and prevented from contacting their parents. He emphasized that these actions are "absolutely unacceptable."

Rising Tensions and Student Exchanges

The Chinese protest against the treatment of its students in the U.S. comes at a time when both countries are seeking to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges to improve bilateral relations. This move is particularly significant as tensions between the two nations have escalated over various issues such as trade, technology, and human rights.

As per the Chinese Embassy's post, there are nearly 290,000 Chinese students currently studying in the U.S., constituting approximately one-third of all foreign students in the country. The post also notes that China has the largest number of students studying abroad, with over 1.3 million currently pursuing education in foreign countries.

Formal Representations and Impact on Students

The Chinese Embassy has made "solemn representations" to the U.S. government concerning the treatment of Chinese students arriving at Dulles airport in Washington, D.C., cautioning students to be vigilant when entering the U.S. This action follows reports of students having their electronic devices inspected, being prohibited from communicating with anyone outside, and, in some cases, being detained for over 10 hours. The embassy's statement emphasized that these actions by border control officers have had a detrimental effect on the studies of international students from China, causing significant psychological distress.

Contradiction and Diplomatic Response

The protest by the Chinese government raises questions about the implementation of the agreement between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, reached during their meeting in November, to promote people-to-people exchanges. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing has not yet provided a response to the Chinese government's concerns.

It remains unclear whether the issues raised by Xie Feng are specific to Dulles airport or if they extend to other entry points in the U.S. Nevertheless, the Chinese government's formal protest underscores the escalating tensions in U.S.-China relations, particularly in the context of educational and cultural exchanges.