The Department of Homeland Security announced new rules on Thursday limiting student and cultural exchange visas to four years. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian rejected the move on Friday and said China reserved the right to respond.
The new regulations form part of a White House crackdown on immigration and have raised concerns among Chinese students already in the United States and those planning to study there.
Lin Jian said: “The US restrictions on people-to-people exchanges do not serve any party’s interest.” He added that China “firmly rejects the US discriminatory move targeting certain countries.”
Stephen, a Chinese student planning a PhD in computer science in the US, said the rules left him facing a dilemma.
The changes target certain countries and affect student and exchange visas.