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BBC News
29-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Students bear the brunt of China-US crossfire
Xiao Chen turned up at the US Consulate in Shanghai on Thursday morning, hours after Washington announced that it would "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese 22-year-old had a visa appointment: she was headed to Michigan in the autumn to study communications. After a "pleasant" conversation, she was told her application had been rejected. She was not given a reason. "I feel like a drifting duckweed tossed in wind and storm," she said, using a common Chinese expression used to describe feeling both uncertain and helpless. She had been hopeful because she already had the acceptance letter. And she thought she had narrowly escaped the bombshells in recent days. First, Donald Trump's administration moved to end Harvard University's ability to enrol international students, a move that has since been blocked in court. And then it said it had stopped visa appointments for all foreign students. But now, Chen is ready for plan B. "If I can't get the visa eventually, I'll probably take a gap year. Then I'll wait to see if things will get better next year."A valid visa may still not be enough, she adds, because students with visas could be "stopped at the airport and deported"."It's bad for every Chinese student. The only difference is how bad." It has been a bleak week for international students in the US - and perhaps even harder for the 280,000 or so Chinese students who would have noticed that their country has been singled Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of "co-ordinating with the Chinese Communist Party". Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the move against Chinese students in the US would include "those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields". That could hit a wide swathe of them given membership of the Communist Party is common among officials, entrepreneurs, business people and even artists and celebrities in has called it a "politically motivated and discriminatory action", and its foreign ministry has lodged a formal was a time when China sent the highest number of foreign students to American campuses. But those numbers slipped as the relationship between the two countries soured. A more powerful and increasingly assertive Beijing is now clashing with Washington for supremacy in just about everything, from trade to tech. Trump's first term had already spelled trouble for Chinese students. He signed an order in 2020 barring Chinese students and researchers with ties to Beijing's military from obtaining US visas. That order remained in place during President Joe Biden's term. Washington never clarified what constitutes "ties" to the military, so many students had their visas revoked or were turned away at US borders, sometimes without a proper of them, who did not wish to be named, said his visa was cancelled by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when he landed in Boston in August 2023. He had been accepted into a post-doctoral program at Harvard University. He was going to study regenerative medicine with a focus on breast cancer, and had done his master's degree from a military-affiliated research institution in China. He said he was not a member of the Communist Party and his research had nothing to do with the military. "They asked me what the relationship was between my research and China's defence affairs," he told the BBC then. "I said, how could breast cancer have anything to do with national defence? If you know, please tell me."He believes he never stood a chance because the officials had already made up their minds. He recalled one of them asking: "Did Xi Jinping buy your suitcase for you?"What was surprising, or even shocking then, slowly turned normal as more and more Chinese students struggled to secure visas or admissions to study science and technology in US Cao, a psychology major whose research involves neuroscience, has spent the past school year applying for PhD programs in the US. He had graduated from top-tier universities - credentials that could send him to an Ivy League school. But of the more than 10 universities he applied to, only one extended an offer. Trump's cuts to biomedical research didn't help, but the mistrust surrounding Chinese researchers was also a factor. Allegations and rumours of espionage, especially in sensitive subjects, have loomed over Chinese nationals at US universities in recent years, even derailing some careers. "One of the professors even told me, 'We rarely give offers to Chinese students these days, so I cannot give you an interview," Mr Cao told the BBC in February."I feel like I am just a grain of sand under the wheel of time. There is nothing I can do." For those who did graduate from US colleges, returning home to China has not been easy either. They used to be lauded as a bridge to the rest of the world. Now, they find that their once-coveted degrees don't draw the same Jian, who did not want to use his real name, said he quickly realised that his undergraduate degree from a US college had become an he first came back in 2020, he interned at a state-owned bank and asked a supervisor if there was a chance to stay supervisor didn't say it outright, but Chen got the message: "Employees should have local degrees. People like me (with overseas degrees) won't even get a response."He later realised that "there really weren't any colleagues with overseas undergraduate background in the department".He went back to the US and did his master's at Johns Hopkins University, and now works at Chinese tech giant despite the degree from a prestigious American university, Mr Chen does not feel he has an edge because of the stiff competition from graduates in China. What also has not helped is the suspicion around foreign graduates. Beijing has ramped up warnings of foreign spies, telling civilians to be on the lookout for suspicious figures. In April, prominent Chinese businesswoman Dong Mingzhu told shareholders in a closed-door meeting that her company, home appliance maker Gree Electric, will "never" recruit Chinese people educated overseas "because among them are spies"."I don't know who is and who isn't," Ms Dong said, in comments that were leaked and went viral later, the CIA released promotional videos encouraging Chinese officials dissatisfied with the government to become spies and provide classified information. "Your destiny is in your own hands," the video said. The suspicion of foreigners as the US and China pull further away from each other is a surprising turn for many Chinese people who remember growing up in a very different country. Zhang Ni, who also did not want to use her real name, says she was "very shocked" by Ms Dong's 24-year-old is a recent journalism graduate from Columbia University in New York. She says she "doesn't care about working at Gree", but what surprised her was the shift in so many Chinese companies "don't like anything that might be associated with the international" is a huge contrast from what Ms Zhang grew up with - a childhood "filled with [conversations centred on] the Olympics and World Expo"."Whenever we saw foreigners, my mom would push me to go talk to them to practice my English," she willingness to exchange ideas and learn from the outside world appears to be waning in China, according to many. And America, once a place that drew so many young Chinese people, is no longer that welcoming. Looking back, Ms Zhang can't help but recall a joke her friend made at a farewell dinner before she left for the US. Then a flippant comment, it now sums up the fear in both Washington and Beijing: "Don't become a spy."Additional reporting by Kelly Ng
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- RNZ News
Meet the solo Chinese mums who are not single parents
Photo: Chinese nationals have filed the majority of applications for New Zealand's Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa over the past decade, reflecting a growing trend among parents accompanying children studying abroad. The visa allows one parent or legal guardian to live in New Zealand to care for a child aged 17 or younger who holds a student visa. According to data from Immigration New Zealand, 23,066 applications were submitted between 1 January 2015 and 4 May 2025. Of those, 12,699 - roughly 55 percent - were submitted by Chinese nationals. South Korea was the second-largest source, with 5547 applications over the same period. Known in Mandarin as peidu mama and peidu baba - literally "mothers or fathers who accompany their children while they study" - these parents accompany their children as they study abroad. Many have left behind careers and personal stability to move to New Zealand in pursuit of better opportunities for the next generation. They say the role comes with multiple layers of difficulty - not just raising a child alone in a foreign country but also adjusting to a new culture without the familiar support networks they once relied on. Moris Li moved from Beijing to Auckland with her son in July 2024. Photo: Supplied Attracted to New Zealand's purported relaxed pace of life, Moris Li moved from Beijing to Auckland with her son in July last year. Her son is now a Year 7 student at Kohia Terrace School. Li said her greatest challenge had been raising her son alone in a foreign country without the support of extended family. "When I want to take a break, there's no one to step in for me," Li said. "Sometimes I just want to drive around and catch up with friends, but I can't go far. I must do the school run and get dinner ready before my son comes home. I barely have any time for myself." Li said her husband can only visit for short periods on a visitor visa, as New Zealand's Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa is granted to just one parent or legal guardian. That restriction, she said, had posed another challenge for the family - her son lacks a father figure in his formative years. "My son is 11, he wants to play sports, but I can barely help with that," she said. "He's approaching puberty and has a lot on his mind. Sometimes he asks me, 'Why can't Dad stay here with us?'" Li said her husband was considering applying for a student visa to stay in New Zealand for longer. However, the high tuition fees for international students would place a heavy financial burden on the family, she said. Returning to China wasn't a simple option either, Li said. She believed her son would likely struggle to keep up with his peers due to stark differences between the two education systems. "He would have to take an entrance exam for intermediate school in Beijing, and it's extremely competitive - getting into a good school depends entirely on grades," she said. "Based on what he's learned here so far, his chances of getting into a good school back home are very slim." Photo: xixinxing/123RF Tina Zhang has lived in East Auckland for about two years. Her son is currently a Year 12 student at Botany Downs Secondary College. Originally from the coastal province of Jiangsu, Zhang said she chose to accompany her son to New Zealand to escape the intense academic pressure of the Chinese education system. "The schools in Jiangsu are very competitive," Zhang said. "When my son started intermediate school, he was basically arriving at school before 7am, and classes didn't finish until around 9:30 or 10 at night. "Even after coming home, he couldn't rest - he still had to do homework. Students in China work incredibly hard, but their physical and mental health isn't always protected." Zhang has struggled with English as a second language. She attended a few free English classes offered in the community but expressed frustration that many of these programs were only available to New Zealand residents and citizens. "Although I've been living here for almost two years, I don't think I've made much progress in speaking English," she said. Zhang had initially planned to enrol in a language school to improve her English but ultimately gave up on the idea. She was worried it would place an additional financial burden on the family, especially since they were already paying high international student fees for her son. She hoped to secure part-time work to help ease the financial burden. "Everything here costs money - my son's tuition, rent - but I don't have any opportunity to earn," she said. "It's not easy for a mother to raise a child and build a life alone in a foreign country." Lily Zhang is the administrator of an online support group for parents on Chinese social media platform WeChat. She said the group was formed in 2021 to advocate for the inclusion of student guardian visa holders in the government's one-off 2021 Resident Visa eligibility criteria. Over time, it evolved into a broader community where Chinese parents "cuddle together for warmth," sharing information and offering mutual support. At its peak, the group had around 500 members, Zhang said. Today, it numbers were closer to 400, with most of them being parents who have relocated to New Zealand to support their children's education. Zhang said such parents were often misunderstood by the broader community as simply being wealthy. In reality, she said, most were grappling with the same challenges and hardships that many new immigrants faced while trying to build a life in a foreign country. "We've been cuddling together for warmth for many years," she said. "I just want to encourage and comfort them, so they know they haven't been forgotten here in New Zealand." Zhang said some couples eventually ended up divorcing due to prolonged separation, while other families found themselves facing a difficult choice: remain in New Zealand or return to China. "There's basically no turning back once you bring your child abroad," she said. "The role of a 'study parent' is more challenging than most jobs, especially in a foreign country where you don't speak the language. Job opportunities are limited, and you don't feel valued beyond just spending money." Zhang hoped the wider community could show more understanding and care toward such parents. Anna Yang said living in New Zealand with her son had been rewarding. Photo: Supplied After living with her 5-year-old son in Auckland for about a year, Beijing resident Anna Yang has decided to return to China and reunite with her husband once her son turned 7. Yang made the decision because she didn't want to be separated from her husband for an extended period. "New Zealand schools have four breaks a year, so we can take advantage of the holidays to go back to China," she said. "My husband visits us roughly every two months, so our relationship hasn't been significantly affected so far. But, over the long term, it would definitely take a toll." Yang said that formal schooling in China typically began at age 7 - later than in New Zealand - so her son could spend two years learning English before returning home to begin primary school. Yang said the typical cost of living and studying in New Zealand for a child and accompanying guardian typically ranged from $100,000 to $200,000 each year, depending on the family's needs. Despite the financial burden and the requirement for one parent to be fully dedicated to the role, she said the experience of living and studying in New Zealand has been deeply rewarding. Echo Zhang encouraged parents accompanying their children studying in New Zealand to refrain from trying to take on all responsibilities alone. Photo: Supplied Echo Zhang lives on Auckland's North Shore with her 16-year-old daughter. She said that maintaining relationships with partners was one of the key challenges that many mothers accompanying their children studying in New Zealand faced. "Although we're here to accompany our children, we're not single mums," she said. Zhang said she discussed her daughter's education and development in regular video calls with her husband. She said such conversations helped her husband feel involved, while also providing her with parenting advice and much-needed emotional support. Zhang believed her role as an accompanying guardian was meaningful, despite the misunderstandings that often surrounded it. "Even though we barely earn any money right now - or have no income at all - we shouldn't undervalue ourselves," she said. She encouraged other parents in similar situations to seek support from family, friends and the community instead of trying to shoulder everything alone. She said it was also important to look after their mental health. "Our family members back in China aren't just breadwinners," she said. "We should reach out, share our struggles and keep the lines of communication open." Jock Gilray, director of visa at Immigration New Zealand, said the Guardian of a Student Visitor Visa allowed a parent or legal guardian to accompany their child while studying in New Zealand. "They are granted a multiple-entry visitor visa, valid for the same period as the student visa held by the student they are accompanying," Gilray said. The visa was issued to one parent or legal guardian at a time, Gilray said. If additional guardians wished to travel to New Zealand with the child, they needed to apply for a separate visa appropriate to their own circumstances, he said. Guardian visa holders were not eligible for an Accredited Employer Work Visa, Specific Purpose or Event Work Visa or Student Visa, he said. However, Gilray said they could apply for a variation of conditions to be permitted to work or study part time. "If a [variation] is granted, they are only permitted to work part time between 9:30am and 2:30pm, Monday to Friday, or part-time study," Gilray said. "This is to ensure they are still undertaking their guardianship duties as those are the conditions of their visa."
