Report Finds 109 U.S. Schools Joined Xi's 50,000-Student Envoys Program
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
Report Finds 109 U.S. Schools Joined Xi's 50,000-Student Envoys Program
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 13
Summary
Defending Education said 83 universities and 26 K-12 schools in 30 states have participated in Beijing’s Young Envoys Scholarship, a China-run exchange program launched by Xi Jinping in 2023.
Xi set the initiative’s goal at bringing 50,000 young Americans to China over five years, while the operating agency lists Marxism-Leninism and Xi Jinping Thought as its guiding ideology.
The report argues the trips can sanitize China’s image: a 2025 newsletter showed 27 Chicago-area students visiting Xinjiang for cultural activities despite U.S. accusations of genocide against Uyghur Muslims there.
Critics including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, House China panel chair John Moolenaar and outside groups say the program functions as a CCP influence operation, while China’s embassy says the exchanges are normal people-to-people ties being unfairly politicized.
The findings add to broader U.S. scrutiny of Chinese efforts to shape opinion through educational partnerships, with advocates pressing for stronger disclosure to schools, students and families.