Beijing criticizes US request for Chinese student information

China's Foreign Ministry has criticized a request from a U.S. congressional panel for information about Chinese students at American universities. The request affects six universities that have programs in science and technology. The letters were sent by John Moolenaar, the chair of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Moolenaar claimed that these students could help China gain access to sensitive technologies. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged the U.S. to respect the rights of Chinese students and not to overextend the idea of national security. She noted that Chinese students make up about 25% of foreign students in the U.S. and are important for its economy and technology sectors. U.S. universities have welcomed Chinese students due to their significant contributions through tuition fees. However, some lawmakers express concern that this could compromise national security. Moolenaar described the student visa system as a “Trojan Horse” for China, suggesting it allows unrestricted access to critical research institutions. The letter from Moolenaar was sent to Carnegie Mellon, Purdue, Stanford, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California. It requested details about funding and research by Chinese students and asked for a breakdown of applicants and enrollments. This development follows a proposal by Representative Riley Moore to halt Chinese citizens from obtaining U.S. study visas. His bill, called the "Stop CCP Visas Act," is unlikely to succeed due to opposition. Critics say it resembles the old Chinese Exclusion Act, which limited Chinese immigration for many years. Moore stated he would continue to defend U.S. interests against China.