Chinese students turning backs on United States

Skilled labor

Data also show a decline in the number of international students studying sciences, particularly those from China, which affects the US in terms of attracting high-tech talent.

Around half of the 1 million international students in the US are enrolled in STEM programs, which encompass science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

These programs typically bring highly skilled labor to the US job market. In 2019, international students accounted for nearly half master's and doctoral STEM degrees awarded, the National Center for Education Statistics reported.

Among the immigrant STEM workers choosing to remain and work in the US, most of them come from China or India, data from the American Immigration Council show.

As a STEM student, He said the US is an ideal country to study in.

"Master's degrees in the US are better recognized internationally. The US is known for its advancements in science and technology. In the field of data science particularly, it is considered to be at the forefront," He said.

"When I initially entered college, data science programs were already established in the US. At that time in China, no graduate-level data science programs were available. It also seemed easier to find job opportunities in the US after completing a data science degree. I believed that the US would give me better prospects. Therefore, I was determined to go there."

However, it is increasingly challenging for Chinese students and scholars, particularly those studying STEM fields, to remain in the US.

A ban implemented by then-US President Donald Trump in 2020 restricts the entry of graduate students from certain Chinese universities believed to have connections with the Chinese military. Many of them are STEM students, and the ban is still in effect under the Biden administration.

Last year, the US Justice Department ended its China Initiative, following calls by academic and civil rights groups. The initiative was criticized for impeding academic collaboration and contributing to anti-Asian bias.

The Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development, or OECD, an intergovernmental grouping comprising 38 member countries, said new data show that the US is losing the competition for scientific talent to China and other nations.

In 2021, the US lost published research scientists to other countries, while China gained more than 2,400 scientific authors, data published in April by the OECD revealed. This marks a reversal from as recently as 2017, when the US gained 4,292 scientists, while China attracted only 116.

As a student in the field of data science and computer science, He said China's economic development in recent years made her realize there are more opportunities at home, and that staying in China for her professional growth is a viable option.

"China is developing rapidly, and the country offers great potential," He said.

She said she chose to study in Hong Kong rather than the US as she saw further development prospects in that city and the Chinese mainland, especially with the support of policies implemented in the Guangdong — Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Meanwhile, rising anti-Asian racism and the deterioration of China-US relations are prompting Chinese students to seek higher education elsewhere.

In Florida, the University of Miami Herbert Business School saw a 30 percent drop in Chinese graduate students last year. The school is ranked No 1 in that state and 26th globally for business administration based on the 2021 World University Rankings.

John Quelch, dean of the business school, said last year, "At the peak maybe four years ago, we had as many as 300 Chinese students. "Last year, the university had about 140 students from China.

"The decision to go to graduate school is usually one year, and sometimes two, in the making. People do not decide on a Friday and then go on a Monday," Quelch said.

"I feel that the cumulative weight of deteriorating US-China relations has definitely caused more parents and potential students in China to question whether the US is a hospitable place."