China is launching a new visa to attract technological talents, but the inhabitants are not happy

When China announced for the first time a new visa targeting foreign professionals in science and technology in August, it went largely unnoticed.

But Visa K, which entered into force on Wednesday, was put under the projectors of the public last week, when an Indian point of sale called it “H -1B of China” – a reference to the American visa for the qualified workers who was last month targeted by a Donald Trump decree. The Indians dominate the H-1B program, representing more than 70% of beneficiaries in recent years.

The Indian media report has been widely taken up in China, worrying – and even fears – among the public as to whether the advantages extended to foreigners increase competition on a slow labor market – and in a country that has not traditionally been a major immigration destination for foreign professionals.

And although it is not yet difficult if the visa will really allow foreigners to work in China or if it simply allows them to access the country easier, that has not prevented tens of thousands of users on Chinese social networks from criticizing the program.

“We have so many baccalaureate holders, not to mention even more mastery and doctorate. We already have a surplus of domestic talents – and now do you bring foreign collegial graduates?” Read a comment.

“There have been so many new programs pushing our university students to compete with each other, but ultimately, nothing beats a foreign passport,” wrote another Weibo user.

Others explained if the authorities could bring a high level of talent and wondered if foreigners would be able to adapt to life on the continent, citing linguistic barriers and the closely controlled political system of China.

Among the comments, there was also a wave of xenophobic and racist remarks – many of them specifically targeted Indian nationals.

The backlash was so intense that the state media intervened to try to calm the waters.

Monday, the Global Times published a comment advocating the program as an opportunity “for the world to see a more open and confident China in its new era”.

And on Tuesday, the daily People’s published a comment entitled “The deformation of the visa K will only induce the public in error”.

“While China goes on the world scene, it is hungry for talent than ever,” added the article.

It is not yet known what the program fully implies, but the Chinese government has declared that it applies to people working in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields.

The authorities have described it as a visa for “exchanges linked to education, science and technology, culture, as well as entrepreneurship and commercial activities”.

In a government press release in August, he declared that candidates for Visa K should be those who are “graduates of well -known universities or research institutions in China or abroad with a baccalaureate or a higher diploma in a STEM field, or who teach or put research in these institutions”.

It has not provided more details on age requirements or which universities would be eligible for the program.

In particular, foreign professionals will not need a support from a local employer to benefit from the visa – and will benefit from more flexibility in terms of number of entries, period of validity and duration of stay.

And the state media, while trying to combat the anxiety of the public, ceased to clarify the exact scope of the activities that the visa covers, not answering the real question which is undoubtedly in the mind of many-will allow foreigners qualified to work in China?

In his article earlier this week, the Global Times stressed that the K Visa would not be the same as a H-1B, declaring that it was “not a simple work permit”.

The people’s daily life has also weighed, claiming that the visa “would offer the convenience of young foreign sciences and technology professionals to work and live in China” – but stressed that it should not be assimilated to immigration “.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that more details on the visa will be released by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, without specifying calendar.

What is clear is that China is to grasp the momentum while the United States is retreating from its first destination position for international talents and visitors.

The official launch of the K Visa K – although the calendar was set two months ago – coincides with the strong increase in the Trump administration of demand costs for the H -1B program, a decision that triggered an outcry in countries like India and China – two of the largest sources of skilled workers in the United States.

This is only the last stage of the wider efforts of China to attract foreigners to the country – whether for tourism, research or business.

In July, China had visa exemption agreements with 75 countries to facilitate the country’s visit to foreign tourists. Its push to attract the best academics has already led some high -level researchers to leave American institutions and to join Chinese universities.

“At a time when some countries are turning inward and excluding international talents, China strongly seized this important opportunity and quickly introduced relevant policies,” said the daily commentary of the people.

But the initiative is not without its limits, say the experts.

The online reaction reflects a model of public examination and criticism in China on what is perceived as a preferential treatment for foreigners, according to Giulia Interresses, editor -in -chief of Business Intelligence Platform Asia Briefing.

Although discourse on social networks does not fully represent the public feeling as a whole, the controversy underlines that “implementation is not only a question of regulatory design, but also of public communication and construction of domestic consensus”, she says.

Language is another barrier. Many researchers and academics who have left the United States for China in recent years are Chinese ethnic and commonly the Mandarin.

But for foreign talents more broadly, communication with Chinese colleagues remains a challenge – that which employers and employees will have to remedy.

The biggest concern, however, is whether foreign science and technology professionals can adapt to the closely controlled political environment of China, explains Stefanie Kam, assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

“Creativity and innovation (flourish) in an open and liberal climate as we see in cases in the United States and in many European nations. But with the current trajectory in China, we see the opposite,” she said to the BBC.

That these foreign professionals “note that the space for the innovation of creativity” in China remains a key question for those who envisage this decision.