Chinese students in the U.S. in the crosshairs
The trade war goes on, quiet June 4, asteroid probe, Uyghurs and Tibetans in the news again, tough talk on Taiwan, military moves in South China Sea
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The long trade war
U.S. student visa revocations and export restrictions
On May 29, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio published an announcement: “New visa policies put America first, not China.” This is the full text of the announcement:
Under President Trump’s leadership, the U.S. State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People’s Republic of China and Hong Kong.
This move is going to destroy science, mathematics, and engineering departments and a lot of basic scientific research in the U.S., to the benefit of China, some European countries, and Japan.
Also last week, the Trump administration announced new restrictions on exports of critical U.S. technologies, including jet engine components, semiconductors and certain chemicals and machinery, and accused the Chinese government of violating the terms of the truce agreed to in Geneva in May by continuing to restrict the export of rare earth minerals. Meanwhile, Beijing has said it is Washington that has violated the truce with the new export controls and threats to revoke Chinese student visas.
New U.S. ambassador arrives
David Perdue, the new U.S. ambassador to China, arrived in Beijing and met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi 王毅, who welcomed him, and added “that after the Geneva economic and trade talks, China has conscientiously and strictly implemented the consensus reached by both sides,” but that “it is regrettable that the United States has recently introduced a series of negative measures for unwarranted reasons, which have damaged China's legitimate rights and interests.”
The trade war looks to be long. See also:
A podcast discussion of the moves against Chinese students with Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn / Sinica
China’s new trade negotiator is ready to play hardball / WSJ
China’s rare earths grip gives Xi leverage in U.S. trade duel / Bloomberg
As U.S. pressure mounts, China’s top Party journal doubles down on long-haul preparations / SCMP
Nothing to see here
Beijing and Hong Kong are quiet on June 4 anniversary
“Security was tight and activists faced pressure from police in Hong Kong on the 36th anniversary of China's bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square,” reports Reuters.
Space race
China launches asteroid probe
China launched Tianwen-2, a robotic spacecraft that will arrive at 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, a near-Earth asteroid in about a year and collect rocky matter. If successful, it will return to Earth in late 2027.
In the news again
Reporting on Uyghurs and Tibetans
The last week has seen a number of new reports on Chinese government’s policies and treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans:
How China uses work to reshape Uyghur identity and control a strategic region / NYT
”State labor programs were aimed at lifting one of the nation’s poorest regions out of poverty, but they have also served as a tool to erode resistance to Chinese rule.”Uyghur workers are moved to factories across China to supply global brands
“China’s persecution of Uyghurs prompted the U.S. to ban Xinjiang imports. China found a way around it — by shipping more Uyghurs across the country.”Uyghurs welcome Turkey's crackdown on Chinese spy ring / Nikkei
“7 China nationals arrested, accused of cyber-espionage against diaspora.”China's 'colonial boarding schools' erode Tibetan identity, report says / Nikkei
“‘Rightful’ Panchen Lama now missing for over 30 years as Beijing denies allegations”
Who will pay for their actions?
Tough talk on Taiwan
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