Economic Ripple Concerns? US Predicts Decrease in Chinese International Students
US-China Economic Security Committee Report
Foreign Students Account for One-Third
Annual Tuition Spending About 18 Trillion Won
US Private Schools Expected to Face Worsening Financial Struggles
[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Young-shin] Following the US-China trade dispute and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of Chinese students in the United States is expected to continue to decline, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 24th.
SCMP cited the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission's "Congressional Report on the Economic Impact of the Pandemic," forecasting a decrease in the number of Chinese students in the US for the 2020-2021 academic year due to school closures and travel restrictions between the two countries caused by the spread of COVID-19. However, the report did not specify the exact scale of the decline.
The report pointed to the consecutive cancellations of major US university study abroad fairs in China as concrete evidence of the decline in international students. SCMP added that last year, China's Ministry of Education not only limited the visa duration for international students but also warned its citizens about the risks of studying in the United States.
SCMP also mentioned that last year, the China Confucius Institutes, supported by the Chinese government, were investigated in the US on espionage charges. The Confucius Institutes are nonprofit educational organizations established by China's Ministry of Education in cooperation with universities worldwide to promote Chinese language and culture. SCMP reported that over the past two years, more than 20 Confucius Institutes operating on US university campuses have been closed. Due to worsening relations between the two countries, the number of Chinese students in the US decreased by 2 percentage points compared to the previous year.
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The decline in Chinese students is expected to exacerbate financial difficulties for US universities and private schools. Among international students in the US, Chinese students constitute the largest proportion. As of the 2018-2019 academic year, there were 1.09 million international students enrolled in US higher education programs, with 370,000 being Chinese students. This means that one out of every three international students in the US is Chinese. SCMP reported that these students spend approximately $15 billion (about 18.4 trillion KRW) annually on tuition and other expenses. SCMP added that the decrease in Chinese students will reduce the size of the US trade surplus with China outside of goods trade.
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