The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that the Japanese government has decided to strictly examine visas for university students and foreign researchers starting next year in terms of strengthening economic security.
According to Yomiuri, the National Security Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Defense will share information on suspicious persons, and will establish a system that can be used by diplomatic missions overseas in charge of visa issuance.
If a suspicious foreigner applies for a visa, the policy is to review rejection.
The United States and Australia are also strengthening their vigilance, saying that China is seeking to acquire foreign skills systematically and strategically through international students.
In particular, Yomiuri reported that information agencies in the United States are increasingly refusing to issue visas by examining the career and personal information of international students.
A Japanese economic and security expert said, "Chinese students who were rejected from the United States are changing their targets and coming to Japan because there is no rigorous investigation like the United States in Japan."
Yomiuri explained the background of the measures to strengthen international student visa screening, saying, "There is a growing concern within the government that it will not be possible to conduct joint research with US universities or research institutes at this time."
(Photo = Courtesy of Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)