Ever since China’s opening up, the United States has been the first choice of mainland Chinese students for an overseas education. It is therefore good that President Donald Trump proposes admitting 600,000 Chinese students, more than double the number now. But the US student visa system remains clouded by flip-flops and mixed messages that create uncertainty for students and universities. They include an overhaul that might limit the duration of visas and tighten background and social media checks.

Trump needs to clarify this. Both countries stand to gain if doubts are dispelled.

Trump defended his decision against attacks from his own political base, with many supporters seeing it as a betrayal of his “America first” agenda. Saying the US is “honoured” to have Chinese students and that, anyway, its college system needs them, Trump dismissed criticism as “insulting”. He pointed to his relationship with President Xi Jinping – “I’m getting along very well with President Xi” – and said he had told Xi directly that the US was “honoured” to educate Chinese students. “We check, we’re careful,” he added, referring to security screenings, while noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio supports oversight of student admissions.

Since returning to office, Trump has taken a tough stance on foreign student visas. Last month, the State Department said more than 6,000 visas had been revoked since he took office. It also said it is reviewing more than 55 million visa holders for possible deportation due to overstaying, criminal activity or links to terrorism. In May, Rubio said the US would begin “aggressively” revoking visas for Chinese students in sensitive fields.

Meanwhile, some students have been reluctant to leave the US for summer vacation because of uncertainty over the right of re-entry. Some parents are considering sending their children to other places such as the United Kingdom, Canada and even Hong Kong.

Now Trump is concerned about the US college system going “to hell” without Chinese students. It’s time he reflected on how his administration’s policy inconsistencies are affecting people’s lives, careers and futures, creating uncertainty about their ability to enter or re-enter without being subjected to stressful interrogation.