China lodges solemn representation to US after 'unreasonable harassment' of Chinese students at Washington airport

The Chinese embassy in the US on Monday lodged a solemn representation to the US after several students faced harassment at the Washington Dulles International Airport and were denied entry despite having all the required documents. The embassy also issued a warning advising Chinese students against using the airport as their entry point into the country. Recently, several Chinese students who entered the US through Washington Dulles International Airport were subjected to unreasonable questioning and harassment by US border law enforcement officers, had their visas canceled and were sent back to China, the embassy said in a statement on its official Website. The embassy said that Chinese citizens undergoing investigation included those with valid documentation who were returning from vacations in China, traveling to the US, attending conferences, or starting their first semester. The embassy noted that these individuals endured interrogations, electronic device inspections, and some were even isolated for up to 10 hours without communication. Emphasising the importance of safeguarding Chinese students abroad, the embassy expressed concern over unwarranted interrogations and deportations, citing instances where the rights and interests of Chinese citizens were compromised by US authorities. Additionally, it criticised such actions for contradicting the spirit of recent discussions in San Francisco, where both countries had agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges. “We strongly urge the US side to end these unfair practices, cease unwarranted harassment, interrogations, and deportations of Chinese students, and effectively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state to support China-US people-to-people exchanges and encourage the expansion of the scale of Chinese students studying in the US,” The Global Times quoted the Embassy as saying. The embassy urged the students to remain calm in case of being stopped by US border law enforcement personnel, adding, if Chinese citizens were treated unfairly, they should document evidence and file a complaint with relevant authorities. “Dozens of Chinese arriving in the United States, including students, were denied entry every month for the past few months. They held valid visas, had no criminal records, and were returning to school after travelling elsewhere or reuniting with their family in China. But when they landed at the airport, what awaited them was 8-hour-long interrogation by officers, who prohibited them from contacting their parents, made groundless accusations against them, and even forcibly repatriated them and banned their entry. This is absolutely unacceptable. The Chinese side immediately expressed its firm opposition to the US side. We will continue to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens,” China’s ambassador Xie Feng said in a statement on Sunday. He said politicising and manipulating educational cooperation will not only prevent students from chasing their dreams and force them to change their life plans, but also drain the talent pool of the US, poison its research environment and chill innovation. “If normal people-to-people exchanges are cut off, how can the two major countries maintain and develop their relations?” Xie asked. With inputs from agencies