China launches a new visa to attract tech talent, but locals aren’t happy

When China announced for the first time a new visa targeting foreign professionals in science and technology in August, no one has noticed it to a large extent.

But the K visa, which entered into force on Wednesday, was heading to the public spotlight last week, when an Indian port referred to the Chinese “H -1B” – referring to the American visa of the skilled workers that was last month, last month, Donald Trump targets an executive order. The Indians control the H-1B program, It constitutes more than 70 % of the recipients in recent years.

The Indian media report has been widely captured in China, which raised anxiety – and even concerns – from among the public about whether the benefits extended to foreigners will increase competition in the slow labor market – and in a country that was not traditionally a major destination for foreign professionals.

Although it is not clear whether the visa will already allow foreigners to work in China or whether they allow them to reach the country easily, it has not prevented tens of thousands of users on Chinese social media from criticizing the program.

“We have a lot of bachelor’s degree holders, not to mention more with master’s and doctorate degrees. We have already an excess of home talent – and now you bring foreign university graduates?” Read one comment.

Another WEIBO user wrote: “There were a lot of new programs that drive our university students to compete with each other, but in the end, nothing beats a foreign passport.”

Others have talked about whether the authorities can bring a high level of talent, and they wondering whether foreigners will be able to adapt to life on the mainland, citing the barriers of the language and the political system that is tightly controlled in China.

Also among the comments was a wave of racist notes and foreigners – many of which specifically targeted the Indian citizens.

The violent reaction was so severe that government media had intervened to try to calm water.

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

On Tuesday, the People’s Daily newspaper published a comment entitled “Distortation of a visa K will not mislead the audience except.”

“With China’s step on the world stage, it is more hungry for talent than ever,” the article added.

It is not yet clear what the program is completely required, but the Chinese government said it applies to individuals working in the fields of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

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

In the issuance of government media in August, he said that applicants for a K visa must be “those who graduated from well -known universities or research institutions in China or abroad with a bachelor’s or higher degree in STEM, or who teach or conduct research work in those institutions.”

There were no more details about the requirements of age or universities that will qualify for the scheme.

It is worth noting that foreign professionals will not need support from a local employer to grant the visa – and they will enjoy more flexibility in terms of the number of entries, the validity period and the duration of the residence.

And the government media, while trying to address public concern, did not stop clarifying the exact scope of the activities covered by the visa, and its failure to answer the real question that is undoubtedly in the minds of many – will the qualified foreigners be allowed to work in China?

In her article earlier this week, the Global Times indicated that the K visa will not be the same H-1B, saying it was “not a simple work permit.”

It also weighs the popular daily, saying that the visa “will provide comfort for young foreign science and technology professionals to work and live in China” – but stressed that it “should not be a contribution to immigration.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said more details about the visa will be issued by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad, without specifying a schedule.

What is clear is that China is the seizure of momentum as the United States retracts its location as a better destination for international talent and visitors.

The official launch of the K – although timing two months ago – coincides with the sharp increase of the Trump administration in the application fees for the H -1B program, a step that caused a stir in countries such as India and China – two of the largest skilled workers sources of the United States.

This is just a newer step in the broader effort of China to attract foreigners to the country – whether for tourism, research or business.

As of July, China had visa exemption agreements with 75 countries to make the country’s visit easier for foreign tourists. A batch to attract senior academics has already pushed some prominent scholars to leave institutions to us and join Chinese universities.

“While some countries turn inward and exclude international talents, China has seized this important opportunity and has provided relevant policies immediately,” says daily people’s comment.

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

The opposite reaction on the Internet reflects a pattern of general scrutiny and criticism in China about what is seen as a preferential treatment for foreigners, according to Julia Interci, editor on the business intelligence platform in Asia.

While the discourse on social media may not represent general feelings in general, the controversy highlights that “implementation is not only a matter of organizational design, but also for public communication and building local consensus,” she says.

Language is another obstacle. Many researchers and academics who have left the United States for China in recent years are Chinese and fluency in mandarin.

But for foreign talents on a larger scale, communication with Chinese colleagues is still a challenge – employers and employees will need to address it.

Stephanie Cam, assistant professor at Nianang Technological University in Singapore, says this biggest concern is whether foreign science and technology specialists can adapt to China’s political environment, “says Stephanie Cam, Assistant Professor at Nianang Technological University in Singapore.

Creativity and innovation [flourishes] In the open and liberal climate, as we see in cases in the United States and many European countries. But with the current track in China, we see the opposite, ”I told the BBC.

Whether these foreign professionals “will find that the space for creating creativity” will not remain a major issue for those who think about this step.