SINGAPORE. As global superpowers lock horns in a deepening US-China trade rivalry, the battleground has expanded far beyond trade routes and tech giants – reaching into university campuses.
Visa crackdowns, rising anti-China rhetoric, and the looming threat of sudden policy shifts have prompted many Chinese families to rethink higher education plans. Previously drawn to top-tier institutions in the US and UK, a growing number of students are now seeking alternatives that feel safer, more stable – and closer to home.
Southeast Asia, once seen as a backup, is quietly emerging as a new academic haven. Wuhan native Qian Yaru is among the students who have made that pivot.
After earning her master’s in financial mathematics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and receiving offers from top-tier institutions in the US and UK, the 30-year-old ultimately chose Singapore to pursue her PhD in finance.
“Singapore is a very safe city – especially for females,” said Qian, now on full scholarship at Singapore Management University (SMU). “The main reason I came here was because of the political uncertainty elsewhere,” she added.
“With Trump’s new policies, you never know what’s going to come one or two years down the line.”
The growing presence of Chinese students on regional campuses is subtly softening China’s image – turning abstract geopolitics into real friendships.
Meanwhile, more Southeast Asian students are heading to China, drawn by its global stature and academic offerings, helping to bridge cultural gaps and recalibrate long-held views on both sides.
Over the past decade, China has sent more students abroad than any other country. According to UNESCO data released in 2023, Chinese students studying overseas reached a record high of 1,021,303.
However, in the US – long a key destination – those numbers have seen a sharp decline. Chinese nationals studying in the US dropped by 100,000 over the past four years, representing a 25 per cent decrease.
In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump revoked hundreds of international student visas, prompting concern from universities about the lack of clarity.
On Apr 9, China’s Ministry of Education issued a formal advisory, urging students to thoroughly assess risks when considering studying in the US. The alert was issued after a new bill in Ohio imposed restrictions on educational exchanges and academic partnerships between Chinese and American institutions.