Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Against the backdrop of growing disagreements between the PRC and the United States, Washington has canceled visas for Chinese citizens, who, according to the American authorities, are tied by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

The US State Department noted that these persons came from China "with the aim of stealing technology and intellectual property, posing a threat to American interests."

According to The New York Times, the expulsion will affect at least 1,100 Chinese graduate students and students studying in the United States. It is noteworthy that, according to the Institute of International Education, about 36% of Chinese students study robotics and high technologies in US universities.

According to the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy, since 2007, more than 2,500 Chinese military scientists are constantly conducting research in foreign universities, often without disclosing their ties with the PLA. Among the 1.1 million international students, Chinese graduate students make up the largest share at 28.8%.

Experts note that this decision by Washington is associated with incidents of data theft by Chinese researchers operating in the United States. In particular, in May of this year. University of Arkansas professor Simon So-Teong was arrested on charges of fraud and hiding his ties to the Chinese government. July 24 this year They took into custody the Chinese researcher Tang Juan, accused of collaborating with the Chinese military.

In general, according to experts, the US authorities are concerned that a growing contingent of Chinese researchers is gaining access to the latest high-tech US developments.

In this regard, observers do not exclude that the next step may be a complete ban on the education of Chinese citizens in American universities in a number of specialties.

It is noted that the imposed visa restrictions against the largest group of foreign students at American universities can worsen the financial situation in the educational market and in the field of US research.