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OCR for page 87
5
Statistics on Trends and Characteristics of
Exchange Participants from China
We are now ready to turn to the statistics themselves. Although
supplemented with more recent figures and some previously unavail-
able data, the basic trends and conclusions are, for the most part,
identical to those described by David Lampton in the earlier study.t
The commentary that follows is essentially a "walk through the data"
with a minimum of "table climbing.n It should also be noted that
some of the issues inherent in the statistics were discussed more fully
or from a somewhat different perspective in the first part of this
study.
There are several ways in which the statistics could have been
organized and discussed. In attempting to take into consideration
the special interests of the various constituencies, the analysis was
divided Into the following three parts: (1) "students and scholars,"
which makes possible some general conclusions about everyone in-
volved in the exchange programs; (2) "students,n which allows com-
parisons between the J-1 and F-1 visa holders in this category; and
(3) "research scholars, which focuses on the more senior segment of
the participants.
1David M. Lampton et al., A Relationship Restored Arcade in U.S.-China
Educational Ezchangce' 19978-1981 (Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press,
1986).
87
OCR for page 88
88
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
J-1 AND F-1 STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS
The visas issued by the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China-
and it ~ rare for an issued visa to go unused provide us with the
most reliable information on the number of students and scholars
entering the United States. Table ~1 presents the number of J-1 and
F-1 visas issued between 1979 and 1986. The figures show an annual
increase in the number of J-1 visas, but a considerable fluctuation in
the case of F-1 visas, which were subject to more policy shifts. For
the period under discussion, only in 1980 were there more F-1 than
J-1 visas issued, reflecting a rapid surge in applications by privately
sponsored students in the immediate postnormal~zation period, while
it took more time (and red tape) to start up the flow of government-
sponsored scholars. For the other seven years, the proportion of F-1
visas ranged from a low of 23.2 percent of the total in 1983 to 43.3
percent in 1981.
With the opening up of additional U.S. Consulates in China, it
is interesting to consider the trends of visas issued by the Consulates
and the Embassy in Beijing (see Tables ~2 and ~3~. As might be
expected, the Embassy has been issuing by far the largest proportion
TABLE 5-1 Number of Visas Issued to PRO Students and
Scholars, 1979-1987
Year J-1 Visas F-1 Visas Total
1979 807 523 1,330
1980 1,986 2,338 4,324
1981 3,066 2,341 5,407
1982 3,327 1,153 4,480
1983 3,328 1,003 4,331
1984 4,420 1,677 6,097
1985 6,912 3,001 9,913
1986 7,673 5,038 12,711
1987 (fiscal) 8,179 5,235 13,414
Total 39,698 22,309 62,007
NOTE: The use of fiscal year for 1987 excludes the last
three months of 1987, but double counts the same three
months for 1986. The net effect on the total is
insignificant.
SOURCE: 1979-1986: Consular reports, U.S. Department of
State. 1987: Visa Office, U.S. Department of State,
Washington, D.C.
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
TABLE 5-2 Number of J-1 Visas Issued by Each U.S. Embassy and
Consulate in China, 1979-1986
Year Total Beijing Shanghai Guangshou Shenyang Chengdu
1979807807-- -- ---
19801,9861,93045 11 ---
19813,0662,631366 69 ---
19823,3272,404734 189 ---
19833,3282,297812 219 ---
19844,4203,1771,011 213 19-
19856,9124,3151,809 515 2667
19867,6734,2612,079 565 402366
NOTE: Figures begin with opening of Embassies and Consulates.
SOURCE: Record of issued visas.
TABLE 5-3 Number of F-1 Visas Issued by Each U.S. Embassy and Consulate
in China, 1979-1986
YearTotalBeijingShanghai Guangshou Shenyang Chengdu
1979 523 523 -- -- -- -
1980 2,338 994 679 665 -- -
1981 2,341 721 1,079 541 -- -
1982 1,153 319 551 283 -- -
1983 1,003 383 419 201 -- -
1984 1,677 704 642 304 27 -
1985 3,001 1,405 1,002 461 126 7
1986 5,038 1,942 2,019 821 206 50
NOTE: Figures begin with opening of Embassies and Consulates.
SOURCE: Record of issued tribal.
89
of J-1 visas, while most of the F-1 visas were issued by the Consulates.
With the exception of a very small decline in 1984 in Guangzhou,
all Consulates showed a steady increase in the number of J-1 visas
issued. In the case of F-1 visas, the fluctuations were much more
evident. As local areas are encouraged to arrange for their own J-1
students and scholars, the number of visas issued by the Consulates
should continue to increase, with the new Consulates in Shenyang and
Cheng~u showing the most rapid growth. Unless China introduces
restrictions on F-1 visas, these too should show a more rapid increase
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90
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
outside of Beijing. In other words, whether the total number of visas
issued in China increases or decreases, the proportion issued by the
Embassy would probably decline.
An examination of the changes that have occurred in the finan-
cial support for J-1 students and scholars over the years is extremely
revealing (see Tables 5-4 and ~5~. As the number of students and
scholars increased, so naturally did the funding, with some half a
billion U.S. dollars being spent from aD sources in the course of the
seven years under review. More striking, however, is the extent of
the internal changes in the funding. While In absolute numbers the
amount of funding from the Chinese government increased almost
every year, there has been a drastic decrease in the share it pro-
vides (down from 54 percent in 1979 to 17 percent in 1985) and a
corresponding increase in the support provided by American univer-
sities (up from 18 to 57 percent). The funding shift is even more
dramatic for continuing students and scholars-in 1985 the Chinese
government contributed only 12 percent of their funding.2 Once in
this country, and encouraged by their government, Chinese scholars
and students quickly become adept at finding sources of funds from
U.S. universities and other institutions. To some extent their suc-
cess in this regard demonstrates an ability to compete against both
domestic and other foreign students, but they also have an advan-
tage not available to others. Although small in percentage terms,
large amounts of money have been spent by U.S. foundations (Asia
Foundation, Ford Foundation, Luce Foundation, and others) to sup-
port Chmese students and scholars. In other words, for the Chinese
the competition for academic funds is not a zero-sum game; more
than likely the money allocated to support the Chinese would not
have been spent on students from any other country. Of course, it
should be kept in round that most foreign students cannot rely on
their governments for support and must use their own funds or seek
subsidies Tom U.S. universities, so that the Chinese experience is
simply approaching the norm.
Available data also permits us to approximate expenditures from
2A Chinese report that from 1979 through 1984 Beijing spent US$116
million to send students abroad to all countries (CD, Nov. 30, 1984, p. 1) seems
somewhat low when compared with the US$97 million spent in the United States
for the same years, as shown in Table 5-4. The difference may be explained, in
part, by the higher tuition costs in the United States, definitional differences,
and conversion factors from yuan to dollars.
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
TABLE 5-4 Financial Support by Source for PRC J-1 Students and Scholars, 1979-1985
(US$ in thousands)
91
Source of Funds1979198019811982198319841985 Total
PRC government3,9687,72915,01117,00625,96727,62322,280 119,584
Personal funds1877891,9822,5475,3538,83212,013 31,703
U.S. government5501,4902,5863,2984,4995,0005,295 22,718
U.S. university1,3546,48717,11724,98838,58453,62176,423 218,574
U.S. foundation2638141,0031,1131,8002,3143,151 10,458
U.S. corporation1732557602506343758 2,815
International
organization702036066361,2331,1611,140 5,049
Other9831,'7252,9514,5826,2859,43612,220 38,182
Total7,39219,26941,81354,77284,227108,330133,280 449,083
Number of students
and scholars for
whom data on
finances were
available8082,235
Percentage of total 79 82
4,5205,8028,2289,87611,185
8183848687
NOTE: Dollar amounts were raised proportionately to adjust for the 15 to 20 percent for whom
financial data were not available. Comparable information is not available for those on F-1
visas.
SOURCE: USIA data tapes.
TABLE 5-5 Percentage Distribution of Sources of Financial Support for PRC
J-1 Students and Scholars in All Categories, 1979-1985
Source of Funds 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
PRC government 54 40 36 31 31 25 17
Personal funds 3 4 5 5 6 8 9
U.S. government 7 8 6 6 5 5 4
U.S. university 18 34 41 46 46 49 57
U.S. foundation 4 4 2 2 2 2 2
U.S. corporation -- -- 1 1 1 -- 1
International
organization 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Other 13 9 7 8 7 9 9
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a value less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: USIA data tapes.
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92
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
TABLE 5-6 Average Annual Expenditure per PRO J-1 Student or Scholar
Number in Dollars
U.S. with Amount Spent per Student
Year J-1 Visas (USS thousande) or Scholar
1979 1,025 7,392 7,200
1980 2,720 19,269 7,100
1981 5,568 41,813 7,500
1982 6,985 54,772 7,800
1983 9,779 84,227 8,600
1984 11,505 108,330 9,400
1985 12,899 133,280 10,300
SOURCE: First column, from Table 5-27; Second column, from Table
5-4.
all sources per J-1 student and scholar (see Table 5-6~. The rea-
sonableness and consistency of the resulting figures can be seen as
providing an independent validation for the calculated number of J-1
students in the United States.
There are no surprises in the geographic distribution of the stu-
dents and scholars who come to the United States (see Table 5-7~.
In 1985 34 percent of the J-1 visa holders were from Beijing and
15 percent from Shanghai; of the F-1 visa holders, again 34 percent
were from Beijing but a much larger proportion, 26 percent, were
from Shanghai and 13 percent were from Guangdong Province, pri-
marily from its capital, Guangzhou. The reason for F-1 students
going abroad in large numbers from the coastal provinces of south
and central China is found in recent history. The large number of
immigrants from these regions in the last part of the nineteenth and
the first half of the twentieth centuries now provide succeeding gen-
erations with many well-to-do relatives in the United States willing
to support their education. With incomes on the rise, there are
now families in China itself (especially in the large port cities) who
have accumulated adequate savings to send an offspring abroad. For
privately sponsored students, the location of the U.S Embassy or
Consulates in their city would also greatly facilitate the visa-filing
process. In general, it is safe to say that the overwhelming propor-
tion of all students and scholars coming to this country (and going to
other countries as weld is from the large urban municipalities, which
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
93
have not only the better key universities, but also a better-educated
adult (parental) populace.
Although still prominent, the bunching phenomenon is not quite
as great when we look at the geographic areas of scholars and students
by place of birth rather than place of residence. The reason, of course,
is that the magnet of Beijing, Shanghai, Guallgzhou, and other
large municipalities has been functioning for decades, first drawing
the parents, but even if not the parents, then their most-talented
offspring through the colleg~entrance examinations.
What this means is that foreign education will only accentu-
ate the already existing concentration of the highly trained man-
power (along with other economic and capital resources) in the large
metropolitan areas of China's eastern provinces. Because of defi-
ciencies in the primary and secondary school systerrrs, young peo-
ple from the interior still find it difficult to compete for the limited
slots available in domestic four-year universities especially the more
prominent key institutions and rural youth find it to be an almost
insurmountable hurdle. At this stage In China's development, how-
ever, and juxtaposing her goals and priorities with the shortage of
trained professionals, Beijing cannot yet afford the ~luxury" of giving
much more than lip service to educational egalitarianism.
TABLE 5-7 Percentage Distribution of PRO Students and Scholars by Place of
Residence in China, 1983-1985
1983 1984 1985
Place of Residence F-1 J-1 F-1 J-1 F-1 J-1
in China Visas Visas Visas Visas Visas Visas
Beijing 25 37 26 32 34 34
Guangdong 17 5 15 4 13 6
Hube 2 5 2 5 2 4
Jiangsu 4 5 3 7 3 5
Shanghai 33 14 32 17 26 15
Sichuan 1 5 -- 4 4
All other provinces 18 29 20 31 21 32
Total
(N)
100100100100100 100
(947)(3,150)(1,491)(3,330)(2,679) (6,026)
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a value less than 0.5 percent. Percentage of
missing data excluded from totals is 2 percent or less for all years.
S OURCE: Records of issued visas.
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94
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
J-1 AND F-1 STUDENTS
Table 5-8 clearly shows the very different trends between stu-
dents with J-1 and F-1 visas. While it took several years to mount
the official exchange of students (most of the early arrivals being
scholars), once the opportunity became available, thousands of young
people quickly found the way and the means to get into U.S. univer-
sities on their own. The extremely large number of F-1 visas issued
since 1985 is somewhat surprising in view of Beij~ng's stated desire to
eliminate most of the privately sponsored graduate education abroad.
Financial support sources for the J-1 students, as derived from
USIA data tapes, were discussed above, but there is also some fi-
nancial assistance information available from the visa data, which
permits some comparisons between the J-1 and F-1 students (see
Table 5-9~. The figures in the table require no explanation, with
the exception of the extremely high increase in 1985 in the "other
or a combination of sources category. The high proportion in this
category is due to the practice of combining the funding from sev-
eral sources reflecting experience that took several years to acquire.
TABLE 5-8 Number of Visas Issued to PRO Students, 1979-1986
. .
J-1 Visas F-1 Visas
Year No. %No. 96Total
1979 145 22523 78668
1980 336 132,338 872,674
1981 680 232,341 773,021
1982 950 451,153 552,103
1983 1,572 611,003 392,575
1984 1,783 521,677 483,460
1985 2,507 463,001 545,508
1986 (3,069) 385,038 62(8,107)
1987 (fiscal) (3,272) 385,235 62(8,507)
Total 14,314 3922,309 6136,623
NOTE: The use of fiscal year for 1987 excludes the last three months
of 1987, but double counts the same three months for 1986. The net
effect on the total is insignificant.
SOURCES: F-1 visas from consular reports, U.S. Department of State.
J-1 visas, 1979-1985, from USIA data tapes; 1986 and 1987, estimates
made by distributing reported totals by applying the amperage ratio of
student J-ls to total J-1e for the preceding three years.
OCR for page 95
STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
95
For the J-ls the most common combination is U.S. university and
Chinese government; for the F-ls it is U.S. university with Chinese
family, Chinese work unit, and U.S. relative, in that order.
Tables 5-10, 5-11, and 5-12 show some significant differences and
trends in the personal characteristics of both officially and privately
sponsored students.
During the early years of the post-Mao exchanges, China had
few young, capable students to send abroad, but there were older,
more experienced scholars (many of them trained earlier overseas)
looking for opportunities to spend a year or two abroad to catch up
with developments that had taken place in their fields during the
isolation years of the Cultural Revolution. Now the average age for
the holders of J-1 visas is significantly lower, with about two-thirds
TABLE 5-9 Percentage Distribution of PRO J-1 and F-1 Students by Stated Source
of Financial Support, 1983-1985
Year Visa Issued
-
1983
Stated Source
of Financial Support Visas
1984
F-1 J-1 F-1 J-1
Visas Visas Visas
1985
F-1 J-1
Visas Visas
Self, savings, or family
in China
Chinese government or
work unit
U.S. relatives or
private individual
U.S. government
U.S. university
U.S. foundation/
philanthropy
International organization 0
Other or combination
1 46 2
4 74
19
76 4 74 9
0 1 0 1
12 36 16 57
0 4
5
1
4
22
43 3
o
19 42
2
2
__ 1
of sources 11 5 5 8 33 30
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
(N) (942) (2,1313 (1,502) (1,145) (2,388) (2,436)
NOTE: Number of individuals missing from totals in less than 5 percent, except
for F-1 students in 1985, who account for 12 percent. The symbol "--"
indicates a value less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: Records of issued visas.
OCR for page 96
96
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
falling into the 20-29 age group; and, since many have also spent a
year or two working, they most likely fall in the upper half of that age
cohort (Table ~10~. One might well have expected students holding
F-1 visas to be younger, but in fact for two of the three years for
which data are available, the reverse was true.
Between 1980 and 1985 about one-fifth of the government-spon-
sored students were women (Table ~11)-only slightly lower than
the proportion of women in Chinese institutions of higher education.
Predictably, the discrepancy in the male-female ratio among students
with F-1 visas is not nearly as great. When it comes to fields of study,
there is a significant difference between men and women students
with J-1 visas. Whereas most of the men are enrobed in engineering
and the physical sciences, the largest proportion of women choose
American studies, library and archival science, and health sciences,
in that order.3
While there is no significant difference in the ages of the J-1
and F-1 students and scholars, there ~ a large discrepancy in the
marital status of the two groups (Table 5-12~. Marriage and family
ties are presumably paramount considerations in making the decision
to return or remain in the United States, so that it is probably easier
for married individuals to receive approval for foreign study; thus
the large proportion of married J-ls. On the other hand, it is safe
to assume that the overwhelming proportion of F-1 females are both
young and single.
Since the presence of a spouse undoubtedly influences the return
decision, it is surprising to see an extremely large increase in J-2 and
F-2 visas, which are issued to farruly members (mostly spouses) of
Chinese students. Prior to 1984, the number of these visas issued
each year was below 100 for both categories. In 1984, however, 318
J-2 and 94 F-2 visas were issued; in 1985, 2,030 J-2s and 244 F-
2s; and in 1986, 2,022 J-2s and 559 F-2s. These increases occurred
despite some clear statements by Chinese officials that the issuance
of permits for spouses to apply for visas to join their student mates
would be drasticaDy restricted. Moreover, once they arrive in the
United States, many of the spouses become students in their own
right.
3Lampton, A Rclatioruhip Restored, p. 188. Although data are for the 1979-
1984 period, there is no reason to expect any major changes since then.
OCR for page 97
97
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OCR for page 103
STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
103
robed in PhD programs, the annual number of degrees that they earn
should continue to increase for a number of years.
In connection with the distribution of students by field at all aca-
demic levels, it is interesting to note one striking (but not surprising)
similarity between domestic college students and those going abroad.
In both instances they tend to avoid majors that will take them out of
the cities and into less hospitable environments. Thus, even though
TABLE 5-18 PRC Citizens Awarded Science and Engineering Doctorates
by Major Field
Year of Doctorate
Tot al
Major Field 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1980-86
Total, science and engineering 1 - 2 8
Total, sciences
Physical sciences
Physics and astronomy
Chemistry
Earth, atmospheric
and marine sciences
Life sciences
Agricultural sciences
Biological sciences
Mathematics
Computer/information
sciences
Social sciences
39
90 137
277
1 5 23 60 95 184
1 1 10 25 52 89
- - 7 19 42 68
1 1 3 6 10 21
3
2
1
6
10
8
1
9 7
13 20
15
17
21
2
19
42
6 11
2 4
Total, engineering 1 - 1 3 16304293
Chemical - - - - -325
Civil - - - - -224
Electrical - - - 1 571125
Mechanical - - - 2 1101023
Material science - - - - 52310
Total, nonscience
and engineering - 2 - 1 1-26
Total, all fields 1 2
2 9 4090139285
1L T ~ ~1~ TO ~ ~, .
low An: ~ nere are some discrepancies between the annual figures and the totals
reported in the source. Of the 152,488 doctorates awarded in S&E by U.S.
universities between 1970 and 1979, 36,925 (24 percent) went to non-U.S. citizens;
of the 96,954 such degrees awarded between 1980 and 1986, 29,734 (31 percent) went
to non-U.S. citizens.
. . .
SOURCE: Statistics compiled from Science and Engineering Doctorates: 1960-86
(Washington, D.C.: National Science Foundation, 1988). NSF 88-309, pp. 140-150.
OCR for page 104
104
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
TABLE 5-19 Most Common States of Residence in the United States
for PRO J-1 Students, 1983-1985 (percent)
State of Residence Year Visa Issued
While Studying in U.S. 1983 1984 1985
New York
California
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Ohio
Indiana
Michigan
Texas
New Jersey
All other states
Total
(N)
14
12
6
6
5
4
4
6
13 13
10 9
6 7
6
6
5
5
5
5
3
36
5
6
37 38
100 100 100
(2,190) (1,199) (2,524)
SOURCE: Records of issued visas.
the demand for college slots is much greater than their supply, Chi-
nese planners and university administrators complain that "depart-
ments of hydrology, agriculture, geology, mining, and petroleum and
mineral exploration still find it difficult to enroll enough students."4
Avoidance of these majors is just as evident among students going
abroad.
California and New York have by far the largest proportions
of both J-1 and F-1 students (Tables 5-19 and 5-20), although they
generally attend different types of colleges and universities. With cost
undoubtedly a serious consideration, most students choose public
rather than private universities (Tables 5-21 and ~22), Columbia
University being the only private institution with large numbers of
both J-1 and F-1 students.
4Li Xing, "Who Will Go to College?" CD, Aug. 21, 1987, p. 5.
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
TABLE 5-20 Most Common States of Residence in the United States for PRO
F-1 Students, 1983-1985 (percent)
State of Residence Year Visa Issued
While Studying in U.S. 1983 1984 1985
California
New York
Texas
Illinois
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Michigan
Washington
New Jersey
Utah
All other states
24 20
18 20
6
5
5
2
3
3
2
3
2
27
20
17
5
5
4 4
4 4
3
3
3
3
3
26
2
2
2
33
Total 100 100 100
(N) (938) (1,517) (2,727)
SOURCE: Records of issued visas.
TABLE 5-21 U.S. Colleges and Universities with the Largest
Number of PRC J-1 Students Enrolling, 1983-1985
College or University
Number
University of Michigan
Purdue University
University of Pittsburgh
Columbia University
University of Minnesota
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana
Cornell University
University of California, Los Angeles
Ohio State University
Stanford University
152
117
111
109
108
104
101
93
93
86
SOURCE: Records of issued irises. Figures do not necessarily
reflect actual enrollment.
105
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106
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
TABLE 5-22 U.S. Colleges and Universities with the
Largest Number of PRO F-1 Students Enrolling, 1983-1985
College or University
Number
City University of New York.
City College
City University of New York,
Queens College
Hunter College
Columbia University
University of California, Los Angeles
San Francisco State University
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Houston
LaGuardia Community College
The Loop College (two-year)
117
91
90
88
74
67
60
57
57
56
SOURCE: Records of issued primal. Figures do not
necessarily reflect actual enrollment.
J-1 VISITING SCHOLA1IS
Visiting scholars make up the largest percentage of Chinese ex-
change visitors with J-1 visas. They do not come to the United States
to enroll in specific degree programs, but rather to conduct research
and study on their own. In general, they must have an established
reputation in China or a relatively long and successful academic ca-
reer or research experience when selected for the program. Because
of these prerequisites, the characteristics of visiting scholars are quite
different from students with J-1 visas.
With established reputations, J-1 visiting scholars tend to be
much older than the students; until 1983 there were few under the
age of 30 (Table 5-23~. This is changing, however, and in 1985, 11
percent were 20 to 29 years of age. While most still fall in the 40
to 49 years of age cohort, between 1979 and 1985 the percentage
in this category steadily decreased and the percentage of scholars
between 30 and 39 years of age has steadily increased. In fact, the
new regulations state specifically that 50 should be the age limit for
advanced studies personnel and visiting scholars, with some possible
exceptions for full professors going abroad for short periods. Although
the percentage of female scholars has been increasing since 1979, it
is still low, closely paralleling both the proportion and the increase
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
TABLE 5-23 Percentage Distribution of PRO J-1 Research Scholars Entering a
New Program, by Age, 1979-1985
107
Year Program Began
Age
1980 1981 1982 1983 19841985
Under 20 years1 -- -- -- -- 00
20 to 29 years1 1 1 2 3 611
30 to 39 years25 15 14 15 18 2123
40 to 49 years66 65 65 60 54 47~44
50 to 59 years6 13 12 17 18 1917
60 years and older1 4 8 6 6 86
Total100
(N)(631)
100100100100100100
(2,036)(1,694)(1,861)(2,188)(3,049)
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a Value less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: USIA data tapes.
TABLE 5-24 Percentage Distribution of PRC J-1 Research Scholars Entering a New Program,
by Occupation in China, 1979-1985
Year Program Began
Occupation 1979 198019811982198319841985
Government 12 ~71012118
University teaching 69 757471716973
or research
University graduate
student 2 111113
Business -- 112222
Other organizations 17 141615131613
Total 100 100100100100100100
(N) t631) (1,232)(2,036)(1,694)(1,861)(2,188)(3,049)
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a value less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: USIA data tapes.
for female students with J-1 visas (see Table 5-11). In terms of their
background, the vast majority of visiting scholars have been teaching
at universities, although a significant percentage have been from
government institutions, which would include the various academies
of sciences and research institutes under the production ministries
(Table 5-24~.
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108
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
The J-1 research scholars are selected, approved, and, one can
say, employed by the Chinese government, but who pays for their
studies in the United States? As in the case of J-1 students, in 1985
ahnost half of the funding came from U.S. universities, with only 23
percent supported by the PRC (Table ~25~. As in the case of stu-
clents, since 1979 there has been a decreasing trend ~ the proportion
of funding by the Chinese government and a corresponding increase
in support by American universities. Taken together, the two sources
accounted for 71 percent of the funding for J-1 scholars in 1985, a
decrease from 83 percent in 1979.
Chinese visiting scholars who come to the United States tend to
represent a much narrower range of specializations (Table 5-26) than
do the students. Over the years about thre~quarter~ of the schol-
ars have been doing work in engineering, physical sciences, health
sciences, and life sciences, with small proportions scattered in other
fields. This concentration of visiting scholars is quite predictable,
with the possible exception of the large proportion in the health sci-
ences. It is possible to argue that the transition from an emphasis
on barefoot doctors during the Cultural Revolution to having some
19 percent of the scholars in the United States doing advanced re-
search in the medical field was too rapid and more responsive to the
desires of individuals in the upper echelons of the medical profession
than to the current needs of the society. However, Chinese medical
TABLE 5-25 Percentage Distribution of Funds Spent on PRC J-1 Research
Scholars, by Source of Funds, 1979-1985
Source of Funds 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
PRC government 64 51 44 42 37 30 23
Personal funds 2 4 4 4 5 6 8
U.S. government 1 6 5 7 7 7 7
U.S. university 19 30 36 37 39 42 48
U.S. foundation 3 3 2 2 3 3 3
U.S. corporation 0 -- -- -- -- -- -
International
organization 2 1 1 1 2 2 1
Other 9 6 7 8 8 10 10
Total 100
100 100 100 100 100 100
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a value less than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: USER data tapes.
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
109
TABLE 5-26 Percentage Distribution of PRO J-1 Research Scholars Entering a New
Program, by Field, 1979-1985
Year Program Began
Field of Study 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985
3 4
O O
3
2
29 34
o
9
5
O __
36
2
2
2
32
3
1
25
11 12
2 1 3 4
1 __
13
4 3
2
3
2
26
19 17
3
2
24
1
19
_
-- - - - - 1 1 2 2
o
9
7
35
3
Agriculture 2 2
American studies 0 0
Architecture
Business management
Computer science
Education
Engineering
English as a second
language (ESL)
Health sciences
Humanities
Law
Library and archival
science
Life sciences
Mathematics
Physical sciences
Social sciences
Other or not stated
10
5
25
3
1
11 10
3
22
4 4
1
9
3
21 22
5
1
2
10
3
17
1
10
2
21
5
2
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
(N) (631) (1,232) (2,036) (1,694) (1,861) (2,188) (3,049)
-
NOTE: The symbol "--" indicates a value les$ than 0.5 percent.
SOURCE: USIA data tapes.
sciences are strong and are credited with a number of breakthroughs
that have received international recognition; the 19 percent of the
scholars who are In the health sciences translates to fewer than 600
individual; and the medical schools in China are training large num-
bers of personnel to staff the health facilities that serve the daily
needs of the public.
ESTD!,IATING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND
SCHOLARS IN THE UNITED STATES
Despite the considerable volume of statistics presented above,
the much sought-after figure for the number of Chinese students and
scholars In the United States in any given year continues to elude us,
as it does the Chinese. What follows, then, is an effort to combine
some of the hard data with unpressions, anecdotal material, and
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110
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
TABLE 5-27 Estimated Number of PRC Students and Scholars in the United States
1979-1985
Est. Total
J-1 VisaF-1 Visa in the
Est.Est. United States
NewCont. Total New Cont. Total by Year
1979891134 1,025 523 0 523 1,548
19801,854866 2,720 2,338 502 2,840 5,560
19813,2102,358 5,568 2,341 2,631 4,972 10,540
19823,0783,907 6,985 1,153 4,254 5,407 12,378
19833,8825,897 9,779 1,003 4,188 5,191 12,931
19844,6316,874 11,505 1,677 3,553 5,230 16,735
19856,3406,559 12,899 3,001 3,478 6,479 19,378
NOTE: J-1 figures are based on USIA data tapes. They differ from those in Table 5-1
because USIA data are based on program years, while consular reports are for calendar
years. The number of continuing F-1 students is estimated on the basis of "planned
length of stay" entries on visa applications and is therefore a gross approximation.
perhaps common sense to come up with a usable estimate, or at
least a point of departure for those who may wish to make alternate
assumptions.
According to statistics assembled by the Department of State,
we know that between 1979 and 1987 the United States issued about
62,000 J-1 and F-1 visas to citizens of the PRO (see Table 5-1~. What
we do not know is exactly how many of the recipients of these visas
are in the country now or were here in any given year. Nevertheless,
by separately analyzing the J-1 visas (responsibility of the USTA)
and the F-1 visas (responsibility of the INS) some ballpark estimates
can be made.
Since the USTA requires students and scholars holding J-1 visas
to fib out a new lAP-66 form during each year that they remain in
the United States, two separate numbers are available: one for new
students and one for continuing students. By simply adding the two
figures together, it is possible to obtain the total number of J-1 visa
holders in the country in any specific year (see Table 5-27~. Although
these are, theoretically, the most accurate figures available, unfor-
tunately they are not available after 1985. From Table 5-27 it can
be seen that the number of J-ls increased rapidly during the early
years (more than doubling from 1979 to 1980), but slowed sharply
once large numbers of students and scholars started to return to
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
111
China. In 1985 there were approximately 13,000 Chinese students
and scholars in the United States with J-1 visas.
Since we know the total number of J-! visas issued and the
number of J-1 students and scholars in the United States, then we
must obviously know how many returned to China during each of the
years under discussion. Referring to Table 5-27 again, subtracting the
number of continuing students and scholars in a given year from the
previous year's total, we obtain the following number of returnees:
1980: 159
1981: 362
1982: 1,661
1983: 1,088
1984: 2,905
1985: 4,946
In other words, from 1979 through 1985, about 1 1,000 (11,121) indi-
viduals with J-1 visas returned to China. Although the method does
not exclude from the totals individuals who adjusted their status in
the United States, these numbers have been very small and can be
disregarded.5 What cannot be disregarded, however, is that in addi-
tion to students and scholars, the J-1 visa holders include teachers
(below the college level), trainees (usually sponsored by U.S. business
or foundations), nonmatriculated visiting scholars, and other indi-
viduals who come here on a variety of exchange programs. The USIA
estimates that this "others category accounts for about 15 percent
of the J-1 visas. Adjusting the 11,121 for the "other" category (autos
matically excluded from Chinese statistics on returnees), we reduce
the number of J-1 returnees to about 9,500.
The real ambiguity starts after 1985. Although we know that in
1986 and 1987 approximately 16,000 Chinese students and scholars
entered the United States on J-1 visas (see Table 5-1), we do not have
the USTA data tapes that would make it possible to determine how
many of those already in the country continued their education and
how many returned to China after 1985. We do know, however, that
despite a growing tendency to delay their return, many thousands
5According to the INS, the number of individuals converting from J-1 visas
to permanent resident status was as follows: 1983: 43; 1984: 20; 1985: 50;
1986: 53; and 1987: 64.
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112
CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA
TABLE 5-28 Summary of Estimates as of January 1988
Students and Scholars
J-1 Visas F-1 VisasTotal
Visas issued to students and
scholars (1979-1987)34,000 22,00056,000
Enrolled in degree program or
doing research
21,000 7,000- 28,000
Legally or illegally changed
status to remain in U.S.500 8,0008,500
Returned to China
12,500 7,00019,500
NOTE: See text for a discussion of sources of data and assumptions that
produced these figures. Figures exclude trainees, teachers, and international
visitors with J-1 vines.
Of students, scholars, and short-term visitors continued to return to
China during the two years. Taking all these facts into consideration,
it is estimated that at the end of 1987 there were about 21,000 Chinese
students and scholars In the United States with J-1 visas.6
Since there ~ no reliable way of keeping track of the activities of
F-1 students once they come to the United States, any estimate of
the number of privately sponsored Chinese students in this country
is questionable. The figures in Table 5-26 are based on the replanned
length of stay" information, which ~ entered by each individual on
the visa application. As we know, however, for most F-1 students
these entries are hypothetical. Although most indicate that they
plan to remain in the United States for a minimum of two years and
many plan to stay as long as four or five,7 in fact, a large propor
6If we reduce the 16,000 who entered this country in 1986-1987 with J-1
visas by 15 percent to eliminate the "others" in this category, we get a rounded
14,000 students and scholars. Reducing it further by an estimated 6,000 J-ls
who returned to China in 1986 and 1987 (elightly lower than the average in the
preceding two years), we are left with 8,000 students and scholars who, when
added to the 13,000 who were already here in 1985, gives us a total of 21,000
students and scholars with J-1 visas.
7In 1985, for example, 37 percent of the F-1 visa applicants indicated a
desire to spend 13 to 14 months in the United States, 21 percent planned to
remain 25 to 36 months, and 20 percent indicated that they will stay 37 to 48
months.
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STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
113
talon extent] their schooling or adjust their status to remain in this
country indefinitely. In other words, when considering F-ls, a triple
distinction has to be made between those who returned to China,
those stiD in school, and those who remained in the United States,
either by legally changing their status (before or after graduation)
or hiding as undocumented residents.8 The inclusion of F-ls in
Table 5-27 is therefore only illustrative and a point of departure
for the following, carefully considered yet speculative estimates: Of
the 22,000 F-1 visas issued to Chinese students between 1979- and
1987, approximately on~th~rd returned home, one-third are still
in school, and one-th~rd have managed to remain in the United
States in a nonstudent capacity. All of the above conjectures are
summarized in Table 5-28. To attempt more precision would be not
only presumptuous but foolhardy.
8According to the INS, the number of F-ls who have adjusted to permanent
resident status was: 1983: 1,163; 1984: 607; 1985: 739; 1986: 825; and 1987:
744, for a total of 4,078. By way of comparison, during the same time period,
7,648 individuals with F-1 visas from Taiwan adjusted to permanent statue.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
visas issued
