Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, announced on Monday that he would allow 600,000 Chinese students to study in the United States while maintaining current tariffs and discussing potential trade talks with China. This move signals a potential thaw in U.S.-China relations, which have been strained due to ongoing trade tensions and restrictions on Chinese students.
Trump’s proposal to lift restrictions on Chinese students comes amid ongoing trade talks with China, which have been complicated by retaliatory tariffs and restrictions on Chinese students. Trump emphasized that allowing Chinese students to enter the U.S. would be ‘very important,’ but he also warned that the U.S. would continue to maintain tariffs on Chinese goods.
Trump’s comments came in the wake of earlier announcements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had vowed to ‘aggressively revoke’ visas for Chinese nationals linked to the Communist Party or involved in sensitive research fields. Trump, however, has since shifted his stance, stating in June that he has ‘always been in favor’ of welcoming Chinese students to the U.S.
The president’s remarks on admitting Chinese students came ahead of a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, where he also mentioned the possibility of a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump indicated that he would like to meet with Xi this year, which could mark a new phase in U.S.-China relations.
Trump’s proposal to allow 600,000 Chinese students to study in the U.S. is seen as a potential move to ease trade tensions and improve economic relations with China. However, the plan is likely to face opposition from those who argue that it could compromise national security by allowing more Chinese students to access U.S. institutions.