Tracking paranoid rhetoric, visa restrictions, and the targeted policing of China-connected research, which combine to create a hostile atmosphere for Chinese people in the U.S.
“Faculty members, post-docs, research staff and students tell me that, in their dealings with government agencies, they now feel unfairly scrutinized, stigmatized and on edge โ because of their Chinese ethnicity alone.”
โMIT President L. Rafael Reif, June 25, 2019.
Since early 2018, the American immigration and justice system has appeared to target Chinese students, and ethnically Chinese researchers, with paranoid rhetoric, visa restrictions, and targeted policing and politicization of China-connected research. Together, these three trends comprise the primary โ but not only โ components of the current atmosphere of suspicion and distrust in America of not just Beijing, but Chinese people as a whole.
This tool tracks rising Sinophobia in the U.S. Click on the filters to view different categories of Sinophobia-related developments, including Responses to Sinophobia, like the letter by the MIT President cited above.
Read aboutย why The China Project launched this Sinophobia Tracker, in the words of our Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Goldkorn.
"In light of recent U.S.โChina tensions, University President Robert Zimmer sent an all-University e-mail on Monday morning in which he stressed UChicagoโs ongoing commitment to supporting international students and academics," reported The Chicago Maroon, a University paper.
"Beijingโs pointed warning on Monday that Chinese students should reassess their prospects for obtaining U.S. visas amid heightened tensions between the two countries is raising concerns in the American academic community," reported the South China Morning Post.
On June 3, 2019, a Chinese Ministry of Education notice said that Chinese students in the U.S. are facing restrictions and difficulties with visas that are affecting their ability to complete their studies, and warned both students and scholars to be aware of increased risk when going to the U.S.
"The challenge of U.S. research universities, including the University of Maryland, is to safeguard our academic values and our nation's legitimate interests. At stake are American leadership in education, research, and innovation in the 21st century and the resilience of our democracy," wrote University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh.
The South China Morning Post found that some Chinese university students have been stuck in limbo as the waiting time for visas grows longer and the US government demands more information.
In May 2019, Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, sacked two neuroscientists, Lว Xiวojiฤng ๆๆๆฑ, and his wife, Lว Shรฌhuรก ๆไธๅ, after they were accused of failing to โfully disclose foreign sources of research funding and the extent of his work for research institutions and universities in China.โ
"We pair our unequivocal commitment to careful research stewardship with another: international students and scholars are welcome and respected on our campus. We appreciate the expertise, creativity, and dedication they bring to our shared pursuit of knowledge and truth, and we affirm their belonging as members of the Yale community," wrote Yale University President Peter Salovey.
"Blanket generalizations regarding any group are dangerous, and risk leading to racial profiling and other forms of discrimination. Indeed, such discrimination has been felt more broadly by those of Asian descent, whether immigrants or not. On our campus, discrimination on the basis of citizenship, national origin or race is a clear violation of our policies," wrote Rice University President David Leebron.
"The University of Delaware is committed to enabling the success of our students, building inclusive excellence, strengthening global initiatives and investing in our intellectual capital, as well as other priorities. International scholarship is absolutely integral to these commitments," wrote University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis and Provost Robin Morgan.
