Far fewer young Americans now want to study in China, something both countries are trying to fix

Stephen Garrett, a 27-year-old graduate student, always thought he would study in China, but first the country's restrictive COVID-19 policies made it nearly impossible and now he has other concerns. The cost is one deterrent, but Garrett is more worried about restrictions on academic freedom and the personal risk of being stranded in China. Whatever the reason for the imbalance, U.S. officials and scholars bemoan the lost opportunities for young people to experience life in China and gain insight into a formidable American adversary.