By Nicole Silverio
President Donald Trump said on Monday that he will allow 600,000 students from China to study in the U.S.
Trump said in June that allowing Chinese students to attend U.S. schools would be beneficial as long as they did not pose a national security risk. The president stated during Monday’s Oval Office event with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to continue the “very important relationship” between the U.S. and China.
“I hear so many stories [about how] we’re not gonna allow their students. We’re gonna allow their students to come in. We’re gonna allow 600,00 students. It’s very important, but we’re gonna get along with China,” Trump said. (RELATED: South Korean Leader Wants Trump Tower Built In North Korea After Lauding President’s Foreign Policy)
The U.S. and China reached an agreement in June to allow Chinese students to attend U.S. colleges and universities, which came after the administration suspended Harvard University’s ability to admit foreign nationals on June 5. The administration cited national security concerns and allegations of antisemitism on college campuses in its efforts to restrict foreign students from entering the U.S.
Trump vowed that the U.S. and China will have a “great relationship,” though he warned that he has “incredible cards” at his disposal that could “destroy China.”
“We have much bigger and better cards than they do,” Trump said. “They have some cards. We have incredible cards. But I don’t want to play those cards. If I did, that would destroy China,” Trump said, adding that he was “not going to play those cards.”
The president is also considering a trip to China to meet with Xi as they continue to negotiate trade terms. After initially raising tariffs on China by 145%, the two countries negotiated for the U.S. to levy a 30% tariff on China, while China places a 10% duty on U.S. imports.
