Who Loses from Restricting Chinese Student Visas?

Abstract

One of the most dynamic elements of the Chinese economy is its technological progress. In this chapter, Matt Sheehan examines the disruption of an important aspect of the US–China tech ecosystem: talent. Visas for Chinese high-skilled workers and graduate students may be under threat as the technology has become a focal point of the Trump administration’s trade war with China. Many voices seem to argue that Chinese researchers are stealing intellectual property and compromising national security. Yet many of the top Chinese tech talent, particularly in AI, appears to want to stay and work in America as part of the global talent pool that underpins innovation in Silicon Valley. How this competition for talent plays out could have significant implications for innovation.