China Condemns U.S. Visa Revocations for Chinese Students Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions

China issued a sharp rebuke on Thursday following the United States’ recent decision to revoke visas held by certain Chinese students. The move, condemned in a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, has heightened tensions between the two countries over educational and people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Mao Ning described the U.S. decision as both politically motivated and discriminatory. She argued that the action starkly contradicts America’s longstanding claims about its commitment to freedom and openness. “Such political and discriminatory practice of the U.S. side has exposed the lie of the so-called freedom and openness that the U.S. has always boasted of, and will only further damage the U.S.'s own international image and national credibility,” Mao stated.

The spokesperson went on to criticize the U.S. for citing ideology and national security as reasons for the visa revocations, calling these “pretexts” that unjustly target Chinese students. The decision, she said, severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of those students, and disrupts the normal flow of cultural and academic exchange between China and the United States.

“We firmly oppose this,” Mao declared, emphasizing that Chinese authorities have lodged serious representations with their U.S. counterparts. She stressed the importance of protecting the rights of Chinese citizens abroad and urged Washington to reverse what Beijing deems an unfair policy.

This latest dispute adds to the ongoing friction surrounding travel, academic cooperation, and bilateral relations between the world’s two largest economies. Both sides have repeatedly emphasized the value of educational ties, but such incidents have complicated efforts to rebuild trust and resume normal interaction in recent years.