Visa curbs, virus challenge Chinese students in the US

Brain drain

Trade wars between the US and China have exacerbated the decline in international enrollment. The trade conflicts could cost US universities around 30,000 Chinese students in the next 10 years－a loss of $1.15 billion in tuition revenue－researchers warned in the study by the Center for Global Development.

Peter Leroe-Munoz, general counsel and vice-president of innovation and technology at Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said, "China is the largest source of international students to the United States, and this closing-off of that avenue of education for Chinese students represented a massive loss in collaborative brainpower.

"Nearly one in six STEM workers in Silicon Valley was born in China, and many more are of Chinese descent," said Leroe-Munoz, whose organization represents nearly 400 Silicon Valley companies. "If we oust these students, they end up in countries that compete against the United States in the global economy."

He said policymakers should do a better job of recognizing the contributions of Asian Americans and Chinese nationals to the success of the US innovation economy.