Are the doors to German universities closing for China’s STEM researchers?

Chinese AI researcher “Joy” waited more than seven months to hear that his visa application for Germany had been rejected.

The 30-year-old had been offered a postdoctoral position at a German technical university but the rejection letter said there was an Ausweisungsinteresse, or public interest in denying him entry.

Citing Section 53 of Germany’s Residence Act, the letter said that for applications involving “study, research and similar employment”, particular attention had to be paid to the...