Related videos:
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Monday that his administration will welcome 600,000 Chinese university students, a record number in the history of academic exchanges between the two countries, as trade negotiations with China progress.
In statements from the White House, Trump asserted that he has "always been in favor" of welcoming Chinese students at American universities and denied rumors about a tightening of immigration policies in that sector. Currently, around 270,000 young people from China are studying at higher education institutions in the United States.
"I hear so many stories about how we are not going to allow their students to enter. We are going to allow it. It is very important, 600,000 students. But we are also going to maintain a good relationship with China," said the Republican leader to reporters.
The measure is part of the cooperation framework that Washington and Beijing have been negotiating for months and that includes trade and strategic commitments.
According to the New York Post, one of the most significant points of the preliminary agreement is the supply of critical minerals —such as rare earth magnets— from China, which are essential for the U.S. technology and military industries.
Change of tone in the visa policy
Trump's announcement represents a shift from the hardline stance previously expressed by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who in May had revealed plans to aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students linked to the Communist Party or enrolled in sensitive areas such as artificial intelligence or cybersecurity.
In recent years, Washington has tightened restrictions on foreign students, even revoking thousands of academic permits. However, the new gesture aims to ease bilateral tensions and address one of Beijing's main demands at the negotiating table.
From trade war to rapprochement
The rapprochement comes after months of tariff confrontations. Upon taking office, Trump imposed a 145% tax on Chinese imports, which prompted immediate retaliation from Beijing with levies of 125%.
More recently, both governments announced a new framework: Washington will impose a 55% tariff and China will maintain a 10% on American products.
Trump presented the agreement as a "great triumph," emphasizing that Chinese students' access to American universities will be an integral part of the deal. "The relationship with China is excellent," the president wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Although the initiative still needs to be officially ratified by Trump and his counterpart Xi Jinping, the announced quota of 600,000 students would mark a milestone in the educational relationship between both powers and a gesture of détente amid commercial and technological competition.
Filed under: