Plugging the Brain Drain

A tough stance on immigration in the US could play into China’s hands and keep more talented Chinese workers at home. “The US quota system for skilled worker immigrants provides a maximum of 9800 ‘green cards’ a year to citizens of any one nation,” reports Huang Shaojie of China’s Global Times. More than 100,000 Chinese students study in the US, and of course, the quota system puts the world’s most populous country at a disadvantage. Wealthy investor immigrants can obtain fast-track visas: “Even the immigrant investor program is focused on jobs for Americans,” the article notes. “Applicants are required to deposit $500,000 in the US with an approved US company that they choose from a list. That company must guarantee to create 10 jobs for US citizens.” Even as Chinese students hope for policy changes in the US, Chinese leaders are slowly, quietly taking steps to convince top talent to stay at home in China. – YaleGlobal