China
Uncertainty for Chinese students in the United States
Author: Xin Wang, Baylor University
Chinese students on US campuses have been caught in the middle of the deteriorating relationship between the United States and China. The anti-China rhetoric of US President Donald Trump and his hawkish advisors has created social distrust, leading to an unfriendly political and social environment for Chinese students in the United States. A recent Pew Research Center survey shows that negative views of China have shot up by nearly 20 per cent in the United States since Trump took office in 2016.
The Trump administration has reduced and limited optional practical training (OPT) for international students and limited H-1B and J-1 visas. The administration also threatened to issue an executive order to prevent international students from staying in the country if they enrolled in online schools for the fall semester of 2020.Trump explicitly called ‘most Chinese students spies’.
Three Republican legislators introduced legislation in May 2020 to ban Chinese students from graduate or postgraduate studies in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Chinese students accounted for about 13.5 per cent of the 42,227 students earning doctorates in science and engineering at US universities in 2018. This hawkish rhetoric has sent a chilling message to Chinese students.
The arrival of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020 disrupted on-campus classes in the middle of the semester. Chinese students fled home in the middle of the global outbreak as the United States became the global epicentre of the pandemic.
The United States has always been the top destination for Chinese students to study abroad. In the academic year 2019–2020, there were 372,532 Chinese students enrolled at US universities, accounting for 35 per cent of the total number of international students in the United States. US–China student exchange has been an important part of bilateral relations since 1979 when diplomatic ties were normalised between the two countries.
Chinese students have contributed to the US economy. Their tuition fees and living expenses contributed US$15.9 billion in 2019. This is significant given many US universities are facing financial challenges and declining domestic enrolments.
Top-tier US universities also compete for students from China to attract a diverse body of students and bring global talent to their campuses. Many universities hold the view that international students should be regarded as talent and not a threat to national security. Competing for high-end foreign talent is a trend among developed countries.
Germany and the United Kingdom have enacted new policies to favour immigration and the employment of highly skilled foreign talent. The Trump administration has instead put more restrictions on international students and skilled labour in an attempt to appeal to its core base, who preference de-globalisation under the slogan ‘America First’. As a result of Trump’s trade war against China, some US universities have reported asharp decline of Chinese students in 2020. Entry visas issued to Chinese students have dropped by almost 70 per cent in 2020 due to the combination of health, economic and political challenges presented by 2020.
Chinese students studying in the United States view the pursuit of higher education as an opportunity to broaden their horizons, build their credentials, receive a well-rounded education and understand Western culture and society. Studying and living overseas, especially in the United States, demonstrates their openness, eagerness and readiness to learn and immerse in the global community.
The Trump administration’s focus on deglobalising and decoupling means international students, especially Chinese students, are becoming victims of conservative US policies. Chinese students feel they are being unfairly scrutinised and politicised because of their Chinese nationality and ethnicity. The current political environment, the public health crisis and growing xenophobia have brought uncertainty to the future of Chinese students studying in the United States.
Some university presidents and scholars of China Studies have been outspoken about the Trump administration’s policies, including the presidents of MIT and Columbia University. In a recent open letter to the incoming Biden administration, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger criticised Trump’s policies on international students as damaging US higher education, the economy and society. The open letter requests President-elect Joe Biden to end Trump’s policies towards…
Business
China’s Golden Rooster Film Festival Kicks Off in Xiamen – Thailand Business News
The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival began in Xiamen on Nov 13, featuring awards, cultural projects worth 31.63 billion yuan, and fostering international film collaborations.
2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival Opens
The 2024 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival commenced in Xiamen, Fujian province, on November 13. This prestigious event showcases the top film awards in China and spans four days, concluding with the China Golden Rooster Awards ceremony on November 16.
The festival features various film exhibitions, including the Golden Rooster Mainland Film Section and the Golden Rooster International Film Section. These showcases aim to highlight the achievements of Chinese-language films and foster global cultural exchanges within the film industry.
On the festival’s opening day, a significant milestone was reached with the signing of 175 cultural and film projects, valued at 31.63 billion yuan ($4.36 billion). Additionally, the International Film and Television Copyright Service Platform was launched, furthering the globalization of Chinese film and television properties.
Source : China’s Golden Rooster film festival opens in Xiamen – Thailand Business News
China
Italy and China New DTA Set to Take Effect in 2025: Important Changes and Implications
Italy ratified an upgraded Double Tax Agreement (DTA) with China, effective in 2025, to reduce tax burdens, prevent evasion, and enhance investment. The DTA introduces modern provisions aligned with international standards, targeting tax avoidance and improving dispute resolution for Italian businesses.
Italy recently ratified the upgraded Double Tax Agreement (DTA), which will finally take effect in 2025. This agreement was signed in 2019 and was designed to reduce tax burdens, prevent tax evasion, and promote Italian investment in China.
On November 5, 2024, Italy’s Chamber of Deputies gave final approval to the ratification of the 2019 Double Tax Agreement (DTA) between Italy and China (hereinafter, referred to as the “new DTA”).
Set to take effect in 2025, the new DTA is aimed at eliminating double taxation on income, preventing tax evasion, and creating a more favorable environment for Italian businesses operating in China.
The ratification bill for the new DTA consists of four articles, with Article 3 detailing the financial provisions. Starting in 2025, the implementation costs of the agreement are estimated at €10.86 million (US$11.49 million) annually. These costs will be covered by a reduction in the special current expenditure fund allocated in the Italian Ministry of Economy’s 2024 budget, partially drawing from the reserve for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the parliamentary debate, Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli emphasized the new DTA’s strategic importance, noting that the agreement redefines Italy’s economic and financial framework with China. Cirielli highlighted that the DTA not only strengthens relations with the Chinese government but also supports Italian businesses, which face increasing competition as other European countries have already established double taxation agreements with China. This ratification, therefore, is part of a broader series of diplomatic and economic engagements, leading up to a forthcoming visit by the President of the Italian Republic to China, underscoring Italy’s commitment to fostering bilateral relations and supporting its businesses in China’s complex market landscape.
The newly signed DTA between Italy and China, introduces several modernized provisions aligned with international tax frameworks. Replacing the 1986 DTA, the agreement adopts measures from the OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project and the OECD Multilateral Instrument (MLI), targeting tax avoidance and improving dispute resolution.
The Principal Purpose Test (PPT) clause, inspired by BEPS, is one of the central updates in the new DTA, working to prevent treaty abuse. This clause allows tax benefits to be denied if one of the primary purposes of a transaction or arrangement was to gain a tax advantage, a move to counter tax evasion through treaty-shopping.
| This article was first published by China Briefing , which is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia from offices across the world, including in in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and India . Readers may write to info@dezshira.com for more support. |
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Business
China’s New Home Prices Stabilize After 17-Month Decline Following Support Measures
China’s new home prices fell for the 17th month in October, declining 0.5% from September, but slowing, indicating potential market stabilization amid supportive measures. Second-hand home prices showed mixed trends.
Decline in China’s Home Prices Stabilizes
China’s new home prices continued to decline in October for the 17th consecutive month, although the drop showed signs of slowing. Recent support measures from Beijing appear to be inching the market toward stabilization, as evidenced by a lighter decline compared to earlier months.
Monthly and Yearly Comparisons
According to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics, new home prices across 70 mainland cities fell by 0.5% from September, marking the smallest decrease in seven months. Year-on-year, prices dropped by 6.2%, slightly worse than the September decline of 6.1%. In tier-1 cities like Beijing and Shanghai, prices decreased by 0.2%, a smaller fall than 0.5% in the previous month.
Second-Hand Home Market Trends
Second-hand home prices in tier-1 cities experienced a 0.4% increase in October, reversing a 13-month downward trend. Conversely, tier-2 cities observed a 0.4% drop in second-hand prices, while tier-3 cities faced a similar 0.5% decline. Overall, recent trends indicate a potential stabilization in China’s property market.
Source : China’s new home prices slow 17-month decline after support measures kick in
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