Those who participated in the demonstrations in Beijing and elsewhere in support of broader social and political reform received support from the thousands of Chinese students currently in the United States. including those at the University of Cincinnati which has a sister university relationship with Beijing University. As a result of their activities and the massacre at Tiananmen Square. most of the estimated 40.000 Chinese students in the United States are deeply and justifiably concerned about returning to China. Unfortunately. roughly 32.000 of these students hold exchange visit visas [the J1] which require them. upon the completion of their studies. to return to China for at least 2 years. Students actively involved in the prodemocracy movement here have been criticized in the Peoples Daily and other official press organs of the Chinese Government and the Communist Party as counterrevolutionaries. For them. an early return to China is an understandably fearful prospect. Two days after the massacre at Tiknanmen Square. the administration announa.ed that Chinese students holding the J1 visas could remain in the United States for an additional year if they acknowledge their unwillingness to return to China. The administration undertook this action out of concern for the students. However. the administrations plan realistically does little for those Individuals caught between principle and nation. An official admission not to return. in the present environment. would be tantamount to signing ones own arrest warrant and perhaps worse. Altering the status of Chinese students in the United States is not a comprehensive answer to the dilemmas posed by the situation In China. However. this legislation. which effectively waives the 2year home country residency requirement for Chinese holders of the J1 visa. is not designed to be a comprehensive solution. It addresses an urgent need. Despite the likely protests of the Chinese Government. enactment of H.R. 2712. which will help provide necessary protection for individual Chinese working for peaceful change in their own country. is well within the traditions of the United States.
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