China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars in the United States, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

Mao made the statement in response to a media query on the U.S. Donald Trump administration's decision to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students on Thursday.

In addition to barring enrollment of future international students, "existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status," according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security which announced the decision.

"China-U.S. educational cooperation is mutually beneficial, and China has always opposed the politicization of this cooperation. Such actions by the U.S. side will only damage its own image and international credibility. China will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese students and scholars," said Mao.

As of the fall 2023 semester, international students made up over 27 percent of Harvard's student body, according to university data.

Chinese students make up about 20 percent of Harvard's international student body.

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

China to safeguard legitimate rights, interests of overseas Chinese students in US: spokeswoman

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 20 pips to 7.0108 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.

Chinese yuan strengthens to 7.0108 against USD Monday