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Chinese students have helped to transform U.S. universities into a $39 billion export industry. Now, both Washington and Beijing are threatening to use them as bargaining chips in their escalating trade war. (Avalon/Jiji)
The Big Story

Chinese students and US universities become pawns in the trade war

America clamps down on visas while China urges students to stay away

YIFAN YU and COCO LIU, Nikkei staff writers | China

PALO ALTO, U.S./HONG KONG -- Driven by a desire to experience college life in America, 19-year-old Vivian recently took a train for four hours from central China to the southern city of Guangzhou, the nearest place where she could take a visa interview at a U.S. Consulate. Her plan hit turbulence the moment she arrived.

"What is your major?" Vivian recalled the visa officer asking her. "The next thing was that I would have to go through a background check."

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