The Victims of the Trump Administration’s China-Bashing

The article outlines the long-standing and troubling U.S. sentiment toward Chinese citizens, from historic reports of espionage in the 1950s to Secretary of State Rubio’s recent announcement of aggressive visa revocations for Chinese students. The narrative traces the patterns of suspicion and legal challenges faced by Chinese immigrants over decades, highlighting the contemporary fears among Chinese students in the U.S. amidst shifting diplomatic relations.

The U.S. government’s attitude toward Chinese citizens has a long and troubling history, dating back to 1955 when Everett F. Drumright, the American consul-general in Hong Kong, alarmingly reported a rising tide of impostors seeking to enter the country under false pretenses. He claimed these individuals were infiltrating the U.S. as, allegedly, agents of the Chinese Communist Party using fabricated documents. Drumright’s extensive report then ignited a federal investigation, scrutinizing the Chinese community across the nation.

Following the findings of Drumright’s inquiry, a federal probe into the Chinese community revealed an elaborate smuggling network, but not the sort of espionage he had suggested. In a remarkable twist, the indictment drew in close to sixty individuals, mostly working-class immigrants like laundrymen and dishwashers, facing immigration fraud charges, yet nothing concrete substantiated Drumright’s dire warnings. The discrepancies between the allegations and actual events are stark.

Fast forward to today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump Administration plans to “aggressively revoke” visas of Chinese students, particularly from those engaged in significant fields or linked to the Chinese Communist Party. With around ninety-nine million members in the Party, the intertwinement is nearly unavoidable. This marks an escalation in the administration’s strategy to markedly distance the U.S. from China, which has already seen punitive tariffs imposed earlier this year and limits on certain technology exports.

In a backdrop of ongoing tensions, the Justice Department filed charges against two researchers accused of smuggling a harmful fungus into the U.S., adding to the notion of a looming agroterrorism threat. This attitude signals a pattern of mistrust towards individuals of Chinese descent, echoing Drumright’s earlier sentiments from the 1950s when he warned of a potential infiltration.

Remarkably, public opinion has not changed much; a recent survey indicated that around half of Americans suspect Asian Americans possess split loyalty between their heritage nations and the U.S. This perception ties back into a history where individuals such as Yung Wing, China’s first Yale graduate in 1854, faced exclusionary barriers, particularly after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

The narrative of suspicion extends beyond the past, particularly during the rise of Communism in China. A wave of Chinese students in U.S. universities faced consequences as their status shifted to that of potential threats rather than esteemed guests. As societal fears faded, laws such as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 worked to establish equitable pathways for diverse immigrant groups, including Chinese nationals.

Now, the number of Chinese students in the U.S. stands at around 277,000, many of whom were raised during China’s economic boom and are keenly aware of the differences between their homeland and the U.S. Recent arrivals like Liwei Zhang, who briefly saw his dreams of pursuing education abroad threatened amid the pandemic, reflect the complex interplay between ambition and fear.

Zhang’s experience underscores a broader fear among Chinese students, who are increasingly concerned about visa cancellations and legal repercussions in light of U.S. immigration policies. Reports of students losing their legal standing due to minor infractions, like a speeding ticket, compound that anxiety. Zhang said it has established a constant feeling of uncertainty among attendees of U.S. institutions.

Overall, the U.S. diplomatic framework regarding China shifts between portraying it as a major threat or a potential partner. The current administration’s rhetoric, especially statements directed at international students, reinforces long-held beliefs of suspicion and paints a chilling picture of relations that remain fraught with unease and tension. This situation draws fearsome parallels to the alarmist attitudes of yesteryear, reminding many of past overreaches that can have deep and lasting repercussions.

The U.S. government’s approach to Chinese students today echoes a historic pattern of suspicion and alarm dating back to the mid-20th century. Secretary of State Rubio’s recent announcement to revoke visas signals a troubling trend and reflects longstanding fears surrounding Chinese nationals in the U.S. This mounting tension has instilled anxiety in the current Chinese student population, many of whom now feel vulnerable in a system that seems increasingly hostile. As the diplomatic relationship between the two nations continues to fluctuate, the broader implications of these policies are critical to understanding the future of U.S.-China interactions and the lives of those caught in between.

Original Source: www.newyorker.com

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