China’s long-standing efforts to bring back talent are starting to pay off at a time when its tech and science rivalry with the U.S. has intensified.
According to a Stanford University study, nearly 19,955 Chinese-origin scientists who built their careers in the U.S. left the country between 2010 and 2021, with many returning to China. Departures among engineering and computer science professionals spiked in 2021.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to revoke Chinese student visas, tamper with the H-1B visa program, and sanction TikTok have dampened Chinese professionals’ enthusiasm for building careers in the country. Past events, such as anti-espionage and intellectual property theft prosecutions, as well as federal raids and arrests against Chinese scientists in the U.S., have also deepened mistrust.
Beijing, meanwhile, has been luring Chinese-origin software engineers, tech entrepreneurs, and researchers to build their careers at home. The Chinese government has dished out generous relocation subsidy programs. Academic institutions in China have promised scientists their own labs, guaranteeing funding and support, while tech companies have empowered executives to draw on blank canvases.
