The US has informed all its embassies and consulates worldwide to stop granting any visas to foreign students. China believes normal educational cooperation and academic exchanges should not be disrupted, Mao said. 

US media reported Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed American embassies and consulates to halt the scheduling of new interviews for student visa applicants.

The Trump administration is considering requiring all foreign students applying to study in the US to undergo social media vetting and wants time to plan the vetting.