Trump visa shock rattles Chinese students, shakes fragile ties

Weeks after trade truce, critics warn of unintended consequences

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U.S. President Donald Trump's administration says it is clamping down on student visas to prevent China from exploiting U.S. universities' research and technological expertise. © Reuters

STELLA YIFAN XIE and PAK YIU

May 30, 2025 15:34 JST

HONG KONG/NEW YORK -- Chinese students are gripped by anxiety and confusion following the U.S. announcement that it will "aggressively revoke" their visas, while the move casts a pall over a recent trade war truce between Washington and Beijing.

President Donald Trump's administration says that canceling visas and more closely scrutinizing new applications will serve the interests of national security.