New Delhi: The Chinese embassy in the United States has lodged a solemn representation to US authorities following reports of alleged harassment and denial of entry to Chinese students at the Washington Dulles International Airport.In a statement released on Monday, the embassy highlighted instances where Chinese students encountered unwarranted questioning and mistreatment by US border law enforcement officers, resulting in the cancellation of visas and deportation back to China.What happenedAccording to the embassy, Chinese citizens, including those with valid documentation returning from vacations, attending conferences, or commencing their studies, were subjected to prolonged interrogations, electronic device inspections and isolation without communication for up to 10 hours.The embassy expressed grave concern over the treatment of Chinese nationals, asserting that such actions undermine the rights and interests of Chinese citizens and contradict the spirit of recent discussions aimed at promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and the US.Calls for fair treatment, respecting rightsIn a strongly worded statement, the embassy urged US authorities to cease unfair practices, including unwarranted harassment, interrogations and deportations of Chinese students. It called for the effective implementation of agreements to support China-US people-to-people exchanges and to facilitate the expansion of Chinese student enrolment in the US.Quoting The Global Times, the embassy emphasised the importance of remaining calm in the face of potential encounters with US border law enforcement personnel. It encouraged Chinese citizens to document any unfair treatment and lodge complaints with relevant authorities.Firm opposition to unacceptable practicesChinas ambassador, Xie Feng, condemned the treatment of Chinese students, describing the incidents as unacceptable and expressing firm opposition to US actions. He criticised the politicisation and manipulation of educational cooperation, warning of its detrimental effects on bilateral relations and the talent pool of the United States.Ambassador Xie highlighted the adverse impact of severed people-to-people exchanges on the relationship between the two countries, questioning the ability to maintain and develop relations under such circumstances.Ensuring protection of rights, interestsThe embassy reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and vowed to take necessary measures to address the issue.The recent developments underscore growing tensions between China and the United States, particularly concerning visa policies and treatment of Chinese nationals entering the country.
