BEIJING: China’s new visa programme aimed at attracting foreign tech talent kicks off this week, a move seen boosting Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington, as a new US visa policy prompts would-be applicants to scramble for alternatives.

While China has no shortage of skilled local engineers, the programme is part of an effort by Beijing to portray itself as a country welcoming foreign investment and talent, as rising trade tensions due to US tariffs cloud the country’s economic outlook.

China has taken a series of measures to boost foreign investment and travel, opening more sectors to overseas investors and offering visa waivers for citizens from most European countries, Japan and South Korea, among others.

“The symbolism is powerful: while the US raises barriers, China is lowering them,” said Iowa-based immigration attorney Matt Mauntel-Medici, referring to China’s new visa category, called the K visa, which launches on Wednesday.

Perfect timing

The K visa, announced in August, targets young foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates and promises to allow entry, residence and employment without a job offer, which could appeal to foreign workers looking for alternatives to US job opportunities.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, widely used by tech companies to hire skilled foreign workers.

“The US has definitely shot itself in the foot on H-1Bs, and the timing is exquisite for China’s K visa,” said Michael Feller, chief strategist at Geopolitical Strategy.

Other countries including South Korea, Germany and New Zealand are also loosening visa rules to attract skilled migrants.

Immigration experts say the main attraction of the K visa is no requirement of a sponsoring employer, which has been regarded as one of the biggest hurdles for those seeking H-1B visas.

The H-1B visa requires employer sponsorship and is subject to a lottery system, with only 85,000 slots available annually. The new $100,000 fee could further deter first-time applicants.

“It’s an appealing alternative for Indian STEM professionals seeking flexible, streamlined visa options,” said Bikash Kali Das, an Indian student at Sichuan University.

India was by far the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas last year, accounting for 71% of approved beneficiaries.

Language issues, unanswered questions

Despite its promise, the K visa faces hurdles. Chinese government guidelines mention vague “age, educational background and work experience” requirements.

There are also no details on financial incentives, employment facilitation, permanent residency, or family sponsorship. Unlike the US, China does not offer citizenship to foreigners except in rare cases.

China’s State Council did not respond to a request for comment asking for more details on the logistics and underlying strategy of the K visa.

Language is another barrier: most Chinese tech firms operate in Mandarin, limiting opportunities for non-Chinese speakers.

Political tensions between Delhi and Beijing could also become a factor that could limit the number of Indian K visa applicants China is willing to accept, experts said.

“China will need to ensure Indian citizens feel welcome and can do meaningful work without Mandarin,” said Feller.

Alternative for whom?

China’s talent recruitment has traditionally focused on China-born scientists abroad and overseas Chinese.

Recent efforts include home-purchase subsidies and signing bonuses of up to ¥5 million ($702,200). These have drawn back US-based Chinese STEM talent, especially amid Washington’s growing scrutiny on ties to China.

“The recruitment effort targeting Indian tech talent in China is growing but remains moderate compared to the more intensive, well-established, and well-funded initiatives aimed at repatriating Chinese STEM talent,” said Sichuan University’s Das.

A Chinese STEM graduate who recently got a job offer from a Silicon Valley-based tech company was also sceptical about the K visa’s prospects.

“Asian countries like China don’t rely on immigration and local Chinese governments have many ways to attract domestic talent,” he said, declining to be named for privacy reasons.

The US has over 51 million immigrants — 15% of its population — compared to just one million foreigners in China, less than 1% of its population.

While China is unlikely to significantly alter its immigration policy to allow in millions of foreign workers, analysts say the K visa could still boost Beijing’s fortunes in its geopolitical rivalry with Washington.

“If China can attract even a sliver of global tech talent, it will be more competitive in cutting-edge technology,” Feller said.

• Iranian apex court rejects defendant’s appeal, reports media outlet.
• Court says corruption on earth charges proved against Choubi-asl.
• Executions increased this year; at least 10 hanged in recent months

Iran executed a man named Bahman Choubi-asl on Monday, the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan said, saying the defendant was “one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran”.

Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, Iran has executed many individuals it accuses of having links with Israel’s Mossad intelligence service and facilitating its operations in the country.

“The main goal of Mossad in attracting the defendant’s cooperation was to obtain the database of governmental institutions and create a breach in Iranian data centres, along with which it also pursued other secondary goals, including investigating the route of importing electronic equipment,” Mizan said.

The Supreme Court had rejected the defendant’s appeal and confirmed the death sentence on charges of “corruption on earth”, it said.

The Iran-Israel conflict escalated into a direct war in June when Israel struck various targets inside Iran, including through operations that relied on Mossad commandos being deployed deep inside the country.

Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with at least 10 death sentences carried out in recent months.

Facing increasing isolation abroad and mounting domestic pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday to defend his intention to “finish the job” in Gaza.

The meeting follows Trump’s unveiling of a 21-point plan aimed at ending the conflict in the Palestinian territory, announced during discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

On Sunday, Trump teased “something special” in upcoming Middle East talks, posting on his Truth Social platform: “WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”

Earlier, on Friday, Trump told reporters in Washington, “I think we have a deal” on Gaza, while Netanyahu, speaking at the UN, reiterated his determination to “finish the job” against Hamas.

Experts, however, say Netanyahu appears increasingly cornered, facing growing international and domestic calls to end the war.

“He has no other choice but to accept Trump’s plan for a ceasefire,” said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University.

“The United States and Trump in particular remain almost his only ally on the global stage.”

Comprehensive agreement

In Israel, tens of thousands of protesters have pressured Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, and on Saturday they urged Trump to use his influence.

“The only thing that can stop the slide into the abyss is a full, comprehensive agreement that ends the war and brings all the hostages and the soldiers home,” said Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of Omri Miran, who remains captive in Gaza.

Directly addressing Trump, she urged: “Use your influence with Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

Israel’s international isolation has deepened in recent days, with countries including the UK, France, Canada and Australia officially recognising Palestinian statehood, breaking with longstanding US-led diplomatic protocols.

Trump’s 21-point plan, according to a diplomatic source, envisions a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a major influx of humanitarian aid.

Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran said Sunday evening that the group “had not received any official proposal from Qatari or Egyptian mediators”.

Arab and Muslim leaders have welcomed the proposal, but have also called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations and any occupation of Gaza.

Some elements of the plan will prove hard for Netanyahu to swallow, and could even lead to the collapse of his right-wing government coalition.

Among the most controversial is the involvement of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) in the future governance of Gaza.

The PA ruled the territory until Hamas seized control in 2007, and its potential restoration represents a red line for Netanyahu’s hardline coalition partners.

While the US proposal conditions the PA’s return on implementing reform programmes, these changes “could take years” to materialise, Gilboa warned.

Broad consensus

Several far-right ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition have threatened to collapse the government if he agrees to the PA’s return, or if he ends the war without defeating Hamas.

However, opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered a parliamentary “safety net”, promising his centrist Yesh Atid party would support a ceasefire and hostage-release deal but it is not clear whether other opposition parties would follow suit.

“This kind of broad plan would need a broad consensus,” said Ksenia Svetlova, a former Knesset member who now heads the regional cooperation NGO ROPES.

Svetlova predicted Netanyahu would only accept parts of the deal, while trying to negotiate or postpone decisions on other elements “seem difficult in this moment”.

Another contentious point in the US proposal is who would guarantee security in the Gaza Strip once the Israeli army pulls out and Hamas is disarmed.

The proposal envisions an international security force comprising Palestinian personnel alongside troops from Arab and Muslim nations.

However, critical details about command structure and operational control remain unclear.

“This plan is internationalising the Gaza conflict in an unprecedented way,” Svetlova said, “but without a clear plan on who will be the guiding star, what the end goals are, who will see it through.”

“The unpredictability factor runs wild here, really.”