For Chinese students and scholars at Columbia University, pro-Palestinian protests evoke sympathy and fear

“They would wear sunglasses and masks, but for me I had to do more,” she said of her fellow protesters from abroad.

“It is already precarious to be Chinese in the US in these times.”

Numbering more than 6,800 students and scholars last fall, Chinese nationals make up the largest international contingent enrolled at Columbia, which has become the focal point of student-led, pro-Palestinian protests sweeping across American universities.

Since April 18, more than 1,000 people, including students and faculty members, have been arrested nationwide. They included two Indian students at Princeton University in New Jersey who were subsequently barred from returning to that campus.

Hundreds of students and some faculty members have continued to camp on Columbia’s campus grounds despite the university administration’s ultimatums, use of police force, academic suspensions and threats of expulsion.

As tensions mount at Columbia, most Chinese students have chosen to stay away from the on-campus demonstrations. However, they have not been completely absent.

Hamas and Fatah commit to dialogue after China meeting, says foreign ministry

Citing how protesting students were being “showered” with various disciplinary actions, she said: “I can only imagine it to be worse for non-American students, especially people from my country”.

Earlier this month, the Chinese embassy in Washington reported that more 70 Chinese students had been deported from American airports since July 2021, with at least 10 cases transpiring since last November.

In March, the magazine Science reported that more than a dozen Chinese students in the last three months had been denied “re-entry after visiting family in China” and were “immediately sent back home” from the US.

The magazine, published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, described the deported students as the “latest pawns amid the rising political tensions between the two countries”.

As Beijing and Washington engage in fierce geopolitical competition, anti-China sentiment in the US has ramped up as well, leaving many Chinese nationals targets of harassment and suspicion.

A Columbia philosophy student from China who asked to be called “Gian” pointed to some Republican lawmakers calling for US student visas to be revoked as a primary reason why many Chinese students hesitated to get involved in the current protests.

In October, 19 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging that foreign students who voice support for Hamas have their visas revoked and be deported from the US.

“I am not taking part because of the fear of retribution, but also because I prefer to be an observer rather than a participant,” said Gian, 25, of Columbia’s protests.

Another consideration among Chinese students is Beijing’s firm stance against social unrest, he added, suggesting that China would not “publicly condemn the US” over students who might lose their visas over protest involvement.

Around two-thirds of Gaza destroyed by Israel’s siege, Chinese satellites note

Despite the risks, a few Chinese students still decided to take part in protesting, inspired to speak out about a situation they feel is not right.

“I haven’t seen many East Asians in the encampment,” said the unnamed student, who appeared on camera, of one site. “I am the only one.”

He was not always “this fearless”, he added. But upon seeing “crying Palestinians” trying to find their loved ones from collapsed houses and rubble, he said it became difficult to remain silent.

It was unfortunate that not a lot of people were aware of China’s supportive position towards the Palestinian people, he said.

“I hope that as a Chinese person, I can be a bridge and raise people’s awareness”.

Many Chinese netizens commenting on the student’s Bilibili video in recent days called him “brave”. Some advised him to “exercise restraint” and “stay safe”, with others describing the protest as an internal American issue.

Another US-based netizen said: “I support everyone in solidarity with Palestine, but my family and friends told me not to go out and [to] pay attention to my own safety”.

On October 7, Hamas-led militants crossed from Israel-administered Gaza into Israel and killed 1,200 Israelis and took roughly 240 others hostage, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel initiated a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

China seeks greater global diplomatic role but avoids Middle East, analysts say

According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s military actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 34,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.

Protesters at American universities have demanded that educational institutions divest from companies that benefit from or endorse the conflict in Gaza.

However, several American politicians – including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana – have condemned the protest movement as anti-Semitic.

The simmering months-long debate over the war intensified across US campuses after Columbia administrators asked police to forcibly dismantle a student encampment on April 18. That sparked similar protests and crackdowns across the country.