A Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-backed exchange program, launched by President Xi Jinping, has reportedly engaged 83 American universities and 26 K-12 schools across 30 states, according to a new report from the parents' rights group Defending Education. The program, known as the Young Envoys Scholarship, is described by the CCP as an initiative to improve U.S.-China relations, but critics argue it serves as a tool for Beijing to shape American perceptions.
The report raises questions about the content of the experiences provided to students in China and whether participating schools and families fully understand the political implications. Michael Lucci, CEO of national security nonprofit State Armor, stated that the CCP uses such programs for "cognitive warfare to distort American perceptions of the CCP‘s endless human rights abuses and global aggression" and to "influence American students as one of their influence operations."
Established in 2023, the Young Envoys Scholarship program aims to bring 50,000 young Americans to China over five years. The China Education Association for International Exchange, which manages the program, cites "Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory … and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" as its guiding principles, according to a translation of its Chinese-language website.
Reagan Dugan, director of Defending Education’s higher education initiative, called the program "an integral part of China's broader soft power strategy aimed at infiltrating America's classrooms." She emphasized the need for "disclosure requirements" so that students and families are aware if their school is partnering with a CCP operation.
The Chinese embassy in Washington D.C. maintains that such exchange programs are not political. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital that "China is committed to promoting mutual understanding and friendship" and "opposes politicizing normal people-to-people, educational and economic exchanges." The embassy expressed hope that the U.S. would view China objectively and provide an open environment for exchanges.
The report highlights instances where American students have visited sensitive regions like Xinjiang. One 2025 newsletter documented 27 students from a Chicago high school traveling to Xinjiang, a region where human rights organizations and the U.S. government allege China is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims. The students reportedly received a curated experience, participating in cultural activities. Such trips have been used in state-run Chinese media, described by the U.S. government and some academics as propaganda.
Testimonials from students and teachers involved in the program have expressed positive sentiments. One high school student participant stated, "I am a China fan," while another student noted, "President Xi Jinping’s message is very heartwarming." A teacher reportedly "strongly agreed with President Xi Jinping’s message that ‘the future is in the hands of the youth.'"
Congressional China hawks have also raised concerns. House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar wrote in August 2025 that exchange programs are a "tool used by the CCP to expand its influence over the American public" and that "American youths should not be used as propaganda tools of the Chinese government."