U.S. Congressional Members Call for Visa Restrictions on Chinese Students

Concerned about Chinese espionage activities, U.S. Congressional members have proposed completely restricting entry visas for Chinese students to America.

According to Voice of America's February 21 report, Republican Congressman Riley Moore recently warned the government about the possibility of numerous spies among Chinese students studying in America. He called on Congress to pass legislation restricting student visa issuance to Chinese citizens.

Analysts say that due to several incidents involving Chinese students related to national security in the United States, Americans' concerns about this are natural. However, some individuals have indicated that restricting Chinese students' opportunities to study in America may not be the best solution.

In an article published in "News Weekly" on February 12, it stated, "Many people are working as information gatherers or hired spies for the Chinese Communist Party. Given this situation, it's time for elected officials to respond seriously to this threat. Congress should act immediately to prevent the CCP from abusing America's student visa program."

In October of last year, the U.S. government charged five Chinese citizens with entering a military base in Michigan at night to photograph U.S. and Taiwanese military shooting exercises. All five were University of Michigan students who had entered America on student visas. Moore cited this case as an example, stating it represents part of the CCP's pattern of using American educational institutions as platforms for espionage activities, a trend he says is alarmingly increasing.

In October 2024, a Chinese graduate student from the University of Minnesota was sentenced to six months in prison for using a drone to photograph America's confidential, still-in-development naval warship near a shipyard in Virginia.