One of Washington’s most vocal China critics defended the Trump administration’s plan to revoke visas for Chinese students and called for a reset in bilateral ties, citing national security concerns.

The revocation of Chinese student visas was attacked by Beijing, which said it has lodged protests with the U.S.

The move could have a major impact on the international student population in the U.S. – a quarter of which was made up of students from China last year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions on foreign officials and other individuals who “censor Americans,” including those who target American technology companies, as the Trump administration steps up a confrontation with other countries over their social media policies.

The United States on Wednesday announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign nationals who "censor" Americans. "It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.