The” Stop CCP VISAs Act,” a bill introduced by Rep. Riley Moore, R-W. Va., aims to stop all Chinese citizens from obtaining scholar visa. Moore argues that this policy is necessary to stop the Chinese Communist Party from exploiting U. S. card plans” to spy on our defense, steal our intellectual house, and threaten regional protection”. However, this determine might ultimately have the same effect, leading to more harm to American national security than it can be.
Moore’s act is the result of legitimate concerns that warrant investigation. U. S. knowledge companies have warned about the Chinese government’s possible use of card programs. Regardless of their location or immigration status, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP ) holds the premise that all citizens of China remain party members regardless of their immigration status or location. This presumption is flawed, which also ignores the fact that many Chinese people have strong self-determination and firm. Countless abroad Chinese are proudly standing up against the CCP’s harsh measures.
Miles Yu, who acted as an advisor to previous Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, recently arrived in the United States on a student visa. Pompeo praised Yu’s thorough understanding of the CCP’s interior workings and called him” a key member of my staff advising me with appreciation on how to guarantee that we protect Americans and secure our rights in the face of obstacles from the [ Chinese Communist Party].” The CCP, feeling threatened by Yu, vilified him in China, yet erecting a statue in his home where people had spit on it, calling him a” traitor”.
Also, a group of Chinese learners at George Washington University established an independent Chinese student union in 2023 to provide a platform for social views unrestricted by the CCP. These cases demonstrate that not all Chinese people accept the group’s rule.  ,
Moore frequently brings up the case of five Chinese ex-University individuals who were accused of spying during a joint military education in the United States and Taiwan in 2023. Less than 0.002 percentage of the almost 280, 000 Chinese kids in the U.S. at the time of this affair, however, are represented by this tragedy. It’s not the British way to impose identity-based social consequence on an overall class because of a few bad actors. There is no proof that the majority of Taiwanese students and researchers study in the United States for Beijing’s advantage.  ,
While some Democrats and critics argue that Moore’s act is similar to activities taken by the Trump presidency in 2020, which likewise suspended visas for Foreign nationals, it’s important to realize a significant difference between these actions. The Trump president’s pupil visa suspension was little narrower than Moore’s blanket denial of student visas for all Foreign nationals, merely addressing a Chinese graduate student or researcher who” now is employed by, studies at, or conducts research on behalf of, has been employed by, or studied at, or conducted research at or on behalf of, or has conducted research at, or has conducted research at, or on behalf of, an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s’milit
U.S. officials at the time acknowledged that” the students who are about to lose their visas” had no clear evidence of wrongdoing. Instead, suspicions by American officials center on the Chinese universities at which the students trained as undergraduates” . ,
Only about 37 % of the 317, 000 Chinese students studying in the United States that year were reportedly affected by the Trump administration’s decision, which was reported to have resulted in the cancellation of about 1, 000 student visas for Chinese nationals. Sen. Marco Rubio, a senate representative at the time, a figure leading the charge against the CCP’s alleged infiltration of American universities, once again reminded the Trump administration that” This visa cancellation ] must be addressed in a targeted way while rejecting xenophobia. We must remember that China’s government often entraps its own people”.
Rubio is currently taking significant steps to establish a distinction between the Chinese people and the CCP. In an internal memo obtained by Voice of America, Rubio instructs U.S. embassies and consular posts to use more specific descriptors and to steer clear of using the adjective” Chinese” because it might have a negative impact on Chinese culture, language, or people in general.
As VOA noted, this strategic approach aims to signal that” Washington sees Beijing’s government — not the general public — as the true adversary in this competitive landscape”. Rubio is aware that America can greatly benefit from cultivating positive relationships with the Chinese population and strengthen its standing in the world’s largest CCP rival.
Additionally, America must concentrate on fostering human capital in order to compete effectively with the CCP on a global level. As Steve Hsu pointed out in The Spectator, nearly half of the leading U. S. researchers in AI hail from China. Only a small portion of this talent pool is made up of Americans-born researchers, who come from a variety of international backgrounds. The influx of brilliant minds from abroad is largely responsible for the success of AI innovation in the United States. Our free-market economy and rule of law create an environment where these talents — many from China — can thrive.
Although Moore’s bill is unlikely to pass, its introduction has already had a significant negative impact. It runs the risk of alienating Asian Americans by perpetuating the falsehood that the Republican Party dislikes immigrants.  ,
Additionally, Moore’s bill could lead to an even greater talent drain, particularly in the technology sector, where many Chinese immigrants travel with student visas first. The U.S. government risks sending a bad message to those who already reside and work here: that they are not welcome by enforcing a widespread ban on these visas for all Chinese nationals. The CCP could exploit this narrative to attract these skilled individuals back to China. In essence, Moore’s bill will serve as a gift for upcoming recruitment rather than a punishment for the CCP.  ,
The decline in Chinese students in the U. S. is already evident, dropping from 372, 532 in the 2019-2020 academic year to fewer than 280, 000 in the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, an increasing number of Chinese scientists who have established their lives in the West are returning to China and supporting its advancements in fields like artificial intelligence. Many people attribute key factors to their decision to leave, including an unwelcoming environment and the scrutiny surrounding their jobs. If this talent drain continues unabated, it could severely hinder U. S. technological innovation and national security, ultimately compromising our competitive position on the global stage.
Retelling Qian Xuesen’s story is worthwhile. He earned a master’s degree from MIT and a Ph.D. from MIT, where he was born in China, where he excelled in mathematics and physics. D. at Caltech under the renowned Professor Theodore von Karman. Qian contributed to the Manhattan Project during World War II, helping to create the first atomic bomb. He later assisted in founding Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  ,
Qian applied for U.S. citizenship after the Communist Party took control of China in 1949 because he didn’t want to go back. Unfortunately, Sen. Joseph McCarthy lost his security clearance and was denied citizenship without any evidence of communist ties as a result of his anti-communist campaign. The U. S. government, fearing he might share his knowledge of nuclear weapons with China, placed him under five years of house arrest before deporting him to China in 1955 as part of a prisoner exchange.  ,
In the 1960s, Qian played a significant role in the development of ballistic missiles and other technology, significantly improving the nation’s military might and claiming the position of “father of Chinese rocketry.” Former U. S. Navy Secretary Dan Kimball later criticized the decision to detain and deport Qian, calling it” the stupidest thing this country ever did” . ,
The cautionary tale of Qian Xuesen’s tale explores how policies based on irrational fear can have a significant impact on national security.  ,
Instead of implementing a blanket visa ban on all Chinese students, American universities and the U. S. government should strengthen their collaboration and enhance the screening processes for student visa applicants, reducing the chances of individuals with suspicious backgrounds entering the country.
The U.S. government should deport those who have been found guilty of espionage and other criminal activity, as well as demonize an entire population for those Chinese students who are already living there. By addressing the espionage issue on a case-by-case basis, we not only safeguard our national interests, but also show Chinese students that an open, free society with the rule of law offers much more opportunities for their talents and aspirations than an authoritarian regime.
Moore’s recent bill is overreaching and counterproductive. I urge Republican lawmakers to consider the legislation they pass as a patriotic American and a former student visa holder. All kinds of talents are required to restore America’s greatness.
