This is repugnant and disqualifying for any office in a pluralistic nation like ours.

I have spent much of my career taking actions in opposition to the People's Republic, but my Chinese students are genuine, hard-working young people looking to better themselves. https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1254428558224736257

In both of the Stanford classes I teach I use offensive hacking, censorship and disinformation from the PRC as real-world examples. My Chinese-born students have always engaged thoughtfully and openly during what must be difficult subjects involving their country of origin.

Privately, many of these students are clear that their goal is to stay in the United States (usually Silicon Valley) and to make a new life for themselves and their families. The ones that are likely to head back to China talk about making it a more open and democratic society.

These students are caught between two worlds, treated with suspicion in America while still monitored by Chinese security services. I know of at least one student whose parents in the PRC were threatened due to his research at a US university.

Silicon Valley was built by immigrants, as was much of the A-Bomb before that. America's soft power is our great competitive advantage, especially as we consider the Sino-American competition that is likely to define the 21st century.

That the world's best students want to study in American universities (and very likely stay here) is an advantage that any other nation would kill to have. If Sen. Cotton is concerned about students returning, then he can help adjust the visa system to keep the best.

This kind of know-nothing populism is not only racist and morally bankrupt, it is also stupid stupid stupid from the standpoint of American competitiveness. Don't lock out Chinese students; work to attract their best and make them and their descendants tax-paying Americans.