Chinese Families Pursue American Education Despite US-China Tensions: An Enduring Educational Investment

Young Chinese students remain a vital demographic for American universities' financial stability despite the ongoing tensions between the two global powers.

In China, Shanghai resident Huang maintains her commitment to her daughter's education in the United States, regardless of deteriorating Beijing-Washington relations. Throughout a year marked by intense trade conflicts, American educational institutions continue to attract Chinese parents seeking enhanced prospects and global exposure for their children.

Many families are hopeful that the anticipated meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea—their first since Trump's return to office—might initiate steps toward relationship stabilization.

"Despite the current political turmoil, I believe this situation is temporary," Huang explained to AFP. "This is a conviction I strongly maintain."

Her teenage daughter has spent three years in an American high school and aspires to pursue computer science at a U.S. university.

Trump's unpredictable nature and "America First" agenda have prompted some of Huang's acquaintances to consider European or Australian alternatives for their children's education.

However, Huang believes the advantages of American education substantially outweigh potential drawbacks.

"We consider the United States a country offering more opportunities for our child, with notably more diverse educational approaches," said Huang, who withheld her complete name for privacy reasons.

This educational investment comes with substantial financial commitments, with Huang estimating annual expenditures exceeding $100,000 for tuition and living expenses.

Chinese students have historically been essential contributors to American universities' financial health. They represent the second-largest international student population for the 2023-24 academic year, following Indian students, according to Institute of International Education data.

Trump's administration has introduced policies targeting both immigration restriction and university influence, which he perceives as leftist strongholds.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced in May that Washington would "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students." Yet contradictorily, Trump later stated that America would permit 600,000 Chinese students to enter the country.

This policy inconsistency appears to have minimal impact on Chinese parents' educational aspirations, according to Godot Han from a Beijing tutoring agency.

Particularly her affluent clients "have shown little concern." They "won't abandon long-established plans based on isolated news reports," she noted.

Instructors at her institution, part of a flourishing domestic sector, annually prepare approximately 200 Chinese students for American university admission examinations.

Individual tutoring sessions range from $112 to $210 hourly, with many students attending multiple sessions daily.

Some parents express concerns regarding their children's safety, citing American school shooting incidents and Trump administration policies.

Nevertheless, many families have consistently "harbored an American dream," Han told AFP.

The persistent attraction of American education stems from its "perceived quality and established reputation," according to Dylan Loh from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

"This prestige and reputation are deeply rooted and will endure for the foreseeable future, despite obvious challenges," he observed.

Another parent, Ping Jiaqi, shared that American universities could help develop "independent thinking" in his 17-year-old daughter, currently attending an international high school in China's Zhejiang province.

After attending Brown University's summer program and visiting several American campuses, she hopes to relocate for university education.

Her father anticipates total tertiary education costs exceeding $400,000.

Ping, who operates an educational consultancy for Chinese students pursuing international studies, mentioned that his friends and students in America "haven't experienced significant disruptions" under Trump's leadership.

"Reflecting on the past decade, U.S.-China relations have consistently remained strained," he noted.

"There was never truly a harmonious period between the nations."