Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs

When asked how China views the US government's move to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students since Chinese students accounted for 20 percent of the university's international students after the US government's decision on Thursday to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students—forcing current foreign students to transfer or lose legal status—while US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused the university of "fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a press briefing said Friday that educational cooperation between China and the US is mutually beneficial, and China has always opposed to politicization of educational cooperation.

The US move will only damage its own image and international credibility. China will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars abroad, Mao said.

Also, at the same press briefing, when asked about US lawmakers sending a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber demanding information on the university's alleged ties with the Chinese government and military—including claims that it hosted and trained members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which was placed on the US sanctions list in 2020, the ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning said that China firmly opposes the politicization of educational cooperation and rejects baseless attacks and smears against China.

"The US sanctions you mentioned are illegal and should be lifted as soon as possible," Mao said.