China has lodged solemn representations with the United States for allegedly blocking Chinese students at the border, and issued a caution over traveling through Washington Dulles International Airport, which is near the U.S. capital, the Chinese Embassy in the United States said in a statement on Monday.

The embassy accused U.S. authorities of "unwarrantedly" interrogating, harassing, cancelling the visas of Chinese students and deporting them, upon their arrival at the airport.

The embassy noted the students involved all had valid documents and were returning to the U.S. after vacationing in their home country, traveling to a third country or attending a conference. It said they were subjected to prolonged questioning, and their electronic devices were inspected. Some even had their movement restricted for more than 10 hours and were prohibited from contacting the outside.

The Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng on Sunday called for the U.S. side to stop the groundless interrogation, harassment and repatriation of Chinese students, at an event in celebration of the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchanges and the 2024 Spring Festival Gala for Chinese and American youths.

Politicizing 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 United States, poison its research environment and chill innovation, the Chinese ambassador said, asking that if normal people-to-people exchanges are cut off, how can the two major countries maintain and develop their relations? 

Xie said that the chilling effect of the "China Initiative" is still lingering on, referring to the state of Florida which recently rolled out a new law blocking Chinese researchers from labs of public universities.

Also, dozens of Chinese arriving in the United States, including students, have been denied entry every month for the past few months, Xie said. They held valid visas, had no criminal records, and were returning to school after traveling 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, he added.

This is absolutely unacceptable. The Chinese side immediately expressed its firm opposition to the U.S. side and China will continue to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, said the ambassador.

(Cover: Visitors to the U.S. consular service line up outside the U.S. embassy in Beijing, China, August 1, 2022. /CFP)