The Trump administration’s move to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students has ricocheted across China, with officials and commentators seeing it through one lens: the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

China will safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its overseas students and scholars, the foreign ministry said on Friday, responding to the Trump administration's decision to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students.

Beyond the shock for students, President Trump’s moves against higher education are being seen in China as a blow to one of the last admirable American institutions.

The Chinese government said Friday that the Trump administration’s move to ban international students from Harvard would harm America’s international standing, as anxious students and parents overseas fretted over what would come next.

The Trump administration is targeting Harvard University’s China ties in what may be the opening shot in a wider administration effort to compel U.S. schools to sever their relations with Chinese entities — or else.

Even against one of the nation’s oldest institutions, the Trump administration holds the levers of power — and it’s using them aggressively.

As the US government continues its crackdown on Harvard University, allegations of links to China and Iran have led to a probe by a joint House committee. The premier university is being investigated by the House Select Committee on China as well as the House Committee on Education and Workforce for its alleged links to groups affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party and research groups being aided by Iran.

The lawmakers say they intend to "hold Harvard accountable to the American people." The post House Republicans launch investigation into whether Harvard aided Chinese Communist Party appeared first on Boston.