You might have thought Beijing’s effort to attract global STEM talent would fire up legions of patriotic keyboard warriors eager to celebrate America’s relative decline. Instead, its launch of a new work visa has sparked an online furore, highlighting the underbelly of China’s much-vaunted industrial policy. The decade-long ‘Made in China’ campaign to ensure the country can compete with the best of the West in 10 key industries—including robotics, electric vehicles and pharmaceuticals—has been largely succe ...

Core Insights - China's new visa program, the K visa, aims to attract foreign tech talent, enhancing its competitive position against the U.S. amid rising geopolitical tensions [1][4] - The K visa allows entry, residence, and employment for young foreign STEM graduates without requiring a job offer, making it an appealing alternative to the U.S. H-1B visa [4][5] - The program is part of broader efforts by China to boost foreign investment and portray itself as welcoming to international talent, especially in light of U.S. trade tensions [2][5] Group 1 - The K visa program is launched to attract foreign tech talent, coinciding with a new U.S. visa policy that may deter applicants [1][4] - China is actively working to improve its image as a destination for foreign investment by opening more sectors and offering visa waivers to citizens from several countries [2][5] - The K visa's appeal lies in its lack of employer sponsorship requirements, addressing a significant barrier faced by applicants of the H-1B visa [5][6] Group 2 - The U.S. has increased barriers for foreign workers, exemplified by the new $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, which could further limit access for skilled migrants [4][6] - Other countries, such as South Korea and Germany, are also relaxing visa rules to attract skilled workers, indicating a global trend towards more favorable immigration policies [5] - Despite its advantages, the K visa has some uncertainties, including vague requirements regarding age, educational background, and work experience [7]