Chinese President Xi Jinping’s invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China over the next five years is raising concerns among critics who warn Beijing could use the exchange program to spread propaganda and influence a new generation of Americans.
Xi made the announcement Thursday during a White House arrival ceremony, as he visited Washington this week for talks with President Donald Trump on artificial intelligence, intellectual property, trade practices and rare-earth minerals.
Xi said China will invite 100,000 young Americans over the next five years for exchanges and study, building on existing programs that have included university visits, summer programs, youth forums and other educational and cultural exchanges.
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China created its Young Envoys Scholarship program, administered by the China Education Association for International Exchange, to carry out Xi’s earlier 2023 pledge to invite 50,000 young Americans for exchanges and study. Some trips are fully funded, while others require participants to cover expenses, with the stated goal of strengthening ties between Chinese and American youth.
While some supported the program, many critics slammed the idea over propaganda and safety concerns.
“This is clearly intended to indoctrinate young Americans in China,” Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino posted to X. “But if some people should go, let the DSA members and let them see the Uyghur concentration camps and poor rural villages. Let them speak to the political prisoners. And let them visit and meet Hong Kongers.”
“100,000 more Timmy Walz’s. What could go wrong,” said one user, referencing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who taught English and U.S. history in Foshan in 1989 after graduating from Chadron State College.
“They’ll come back as Governor of Minnesota,” another user added.
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“No! They will brainwash them while over there,” said one person.
“I welcome Xi Jinping’s invitation for 100,000 American students to visit and study in China. As Co-Chair of the Congressional International Exchanges Caucus, I believe educational and cultural exchanges are an important way to build mutual understanding and expertise,” said Democratic California Rep. Ami Bera.
“But those exchanges depend on trust and the ability to study, speak, and engage without fear of harassment or arbitrary detention,” Bera continued. “Right now, American scholar Min Zin remains wrongfully detained in China, and Beijing continues to target scholars, human rights advocates, and diaspora communities whose work or speech it finds unwelcome.”
“I’m one of the Americans who spent years living and studying in China. I majored in Chinese literature in college. Sadly, I cannot recommend young Americans do the same thing today,” said Atlantic Council visiting fellow Isaac Stone Fish.
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Fish said that China has grown more repressive and less welcoming to foreigners.
“If tensions worsen between the United States and China, those students could effectively function as hostages,” Fish added.
“Are they coming back as Communists,” asked one user.
“To be honest, I’m not sure I WANT 100,000 impressionable American students sent off to some CCP-controlled propaganda tour,” said conservative commentator Nick Sortor.
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The Department of Education referred Fox News Digital to the White House when asked for comment.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
U.S. authorities have separately warned that American students abroad can become targets for foreign intelligence recruitment, citing past cases involving China.
Glenn Duffie Shriver, a Michigan student who studied abroad in Shanghai in 2002–2003, returned to China after graduating in 2004 and was recruited there by Chinese intelligence officers.
Shriver was paid to apply for positions with the State Department and CIA to access classified information for the Chinese.
He was caught before obtaining a government position and pleaded guilty in 2010 to conspiring to provide national-defense information to Chinese intelligence officers. He was sentenced to four years in federal prison in 2011.