The US visa application webpage Photo: IC

US' visa restrictions on Chinese students are a continuation of an "evil legacy" from the Trump administration. This runs counter to the common aspiration of the Chinese and American people to develop friendly exchanges, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

Zhao made the remarks during a Tuesday's routine press conference, responding to questions concerning the recent open letter by more than 500 Chinese students to the Chinese Embassy in the US, who complained that their visa applications were rejected.

We have noticed some Chinese students' visa applications have been declined by the US based on the Presidential Decree No. 10043 signed during the Trump administration. China has expressed serious concern about this and has lodged solemn representations with the US, the spokesperson said. 

"People exchanges are the foundation of China-US relations. Academic, educational, and technological exchanges are an important part of China-US humanities exchanges, and are of great significance to enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries and promoting the development of China-US relations," he noted.

China urges the US to correct its mistakes, review the Chinese students' applications, and stop using various excuses for unreasonable restrictions and suppression of Chinese students. The US should protect Chinese students' legitimate rights and interests, and create a good atmosphere for China-US cultural exchanges and educational cooperation, Zhao said.

In May 2020, the US banned Chinese postgraduate students and researchers from studying or working in the US if they had previously been affiliated with China's military-civil fusion strategy. In September 2020, the US revoked more than 1,000 visas of Chinese nationals as part of the Trump administration's push to block entry of students and researchers from China it believes have links to the Chinese military.

Despite the US Embassy and consulates in China resumed visa appointments for students in May this year, the Global Times has learned restrictions on those with high-tech backgrounds remain in place. Such restrictions are even extended to students whose parents work in the security, immigration and anti-graft government departments.