Presidential Proclamation 10043 (PP10043), signed by President Trump on May 29, 2020, is an executive order aimed at restricting graduate students, doctoral researchers, and postdoctoral researchers from China associated with the “Military-Civil Fusion strategy” from entering the United States using F or J visas. The targeted individuals include those who have previously studied or worked at institutions linked to China’s “Military-Civil Fusion” strategy or who are considered potential threats to U.S. national security (except this rule was also used indiscriminately against people without these ties without any justification or explanation). Undergraduate students, green card holders, immediate family members of U.S. citizens, and individuals granted asylum are exempt from this restriction.
The stated goal is to prevent China from accessing sensitive U.S. technology and intellectual property through academic exchanges, potentially threatening U.S. interests. Specific consequences include visa refusals or cancellations, prolonged visa approval processes, and increased scrutiny for individuals attempting to enter the U.S. or extend academic collaborations. PP10043 also grants the U.S. Department of Homeland Security broader authority to “mitigate threats from China.”
Why Attention to PP10043 Matters?
Although PP10043 officially targets individuals associated with China’s military, its practical impacts extend far beyond its written terms. Understanding the political motivations behind this policy requires examining the broader geopolitical context. Officially, PP10043 cites concerns about China obtaining U.S. intellectual property through graduate research, portraying this as a threat to U.S. military and scientific dominance. However, it overlooks the considerable benefits that the U.S. and Trump’s personal businesses continue to derive from China (such as inexpensive labor and research outputs). The policy aligns with Trump and his supporters’ broader political stance against China.
Contrary to expectations, the Biden administration has refused to revoke this proclamation, despite its devastating impacts on many Chinese students in the U.S. Implementation of PP10043 has been opaque and unpredictable.
Amid increasingly tense U.S.-China relations, there is growing emphasis in the U.S. on “countering China,” leading to policies such as PP10043. Some U.S. media outlets frequently associate Chinese international students with “technology theft” or “potential espionage.” Meanwhile, within China, international students sometimes face suspicion and scrutiny, labeled as “westernized,” politically unreliable, or lacking loyalty. Thus, Chinese students abroad experience a ‘double bind,’ ironically constrained and under suspicion on both sides.
In reality, both countries profit from Chinese international students, exploiting their labor and talent. While these students significantly contribute to U.S. universities and local economies through tuition fees exceeding $20 billion, doctoral and postdoctoral researchers often receive minimal compensation despite fueling substantial U.S. research activities. Graduates also frequently endure unfavorable employment conditions under restrictive H-1B visas.
Chinese students face accusations of espionage in the U.S. and suspicion of disloyalty in China, causing significant psychological stress and damaging cross-border academic collaboration. PP10043 exemplifies how Chinese immigrants have again been scapegoated within U.S. politics, while simultaneously supporting China’s narrative of “national superiority,” discouraging meaningful aid from Chinese authorities. Studying abroad inherently empowers individuals with cross-national perspectives, yet current U.S.-China tensions marginalize these students, reducing them to “outsiders” in both societies.
To overcome this double bind, we must move beyond abstract political analysis and identify concrete political allies in both countries who understand and empathize with our predicament, demanding tangible changes. Chinese international students significantly bolster American research and economic dominance through tuition, research labor, and post-graduation contributions. However, dialogues with university administrations reveal a lack of genuine concern for international student welfare, largely due to perceived political powerlessness among Chinese students.
Past Efforts and Challenges
- Legal Appeals: In 2022, appeals against PP10043 (link) were unsuccessful, viewed as necessary U.S.-China conflict measures by current administrations.
- Union Strikes: While some student unions achieved modest gains (e.g., visa fee subsidies), international student issues often become bargaining chips rather than central concerns (as evidenced by UC system strikes in 2022).
Possible Actions
- Campus Workshops: Transparent dialogues educating students and faculty about PP10043’s impacts on Chinese students’ psychological and social well-being.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Broad-based educational initiatives involving administration, faculty, unions, and students to systematically expose underlying factors responsible for the plight of Chinese students.
- Union Negotiations: Incorporating protective clauses against ICE and DHS actions in employment contracts to safeguard student immigration information.
- Mobilizing Asian-American Communities: Leveraging experienced Asian-American activists and influential Asian studies scholars to raise awareness and advocate for Chinese students.
- Sharing Our Experience with American Peers.
Key Points to Communicate:
- Chinese students’ challenges are deeply tied to Cold War legacies and U.S. political scapegoating.
- U.S. policies targeting Chinese students differ significantly from those targeting students from other countries.
- Political disengagement among Chinese students weakens their collective bargaining power.
- Censorship on Chinese-language social media severely restricts public discourse on these issues.