German government withholds Chinese research visa rejection figures

The German Federal Foreign Office has classified the number of rejected research visas for Chinese nationals as a confidential matter, arguing that publishing the data could lead to misinterpretations and diplomatic tensions. Official figures show that 3,273 Chinese research visa applications were processed in 2024, compared with 2,147 in 2021, 2,627 in 2025, and 856 in the first half of 2026, but the number of refusals remains undisclosed.

Green Party Bundestag member Marcel Emmerich criticised the secrecy, saying universities lack binding protection standards, adequate advice and an effective security strategy against scientific espionage. He called for a differentiated approach that welcomes genuine researchers while stopping those acting on behalf of authoritarian regimes. The issue is part of a broader debate on research security, highlighted by investigations into the Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA) and its collaborations with Chinese institutions, as well as warnings about partnerships with Chinese universities linked to the military.