Amid visa crackdowns, one Harvard grad reminds the world: ‘We are bound by our shared humanity. image: Harvard University
(The Post News)- Yurong “Luanna” Jiang, the first Chinese woman selected as a student speaker at a Harvard University commencement, has drawn both praise and criticism after her graduation speech went viral. Her address, emphasizing unity and “shared humanity,” was delivered amid growing US-China tensions and controversial immigration policies targeting Chinese students.
Speaking to thousands, Jiang warned that global cooperation was being replaced by “division, fear, and conflict,” and urged listeners to see beyond differences in politics, nationality, or belief. “Humanity rises and falls as one,” she said. “We are bound by something deeper than belief: our shared humanity.”
The speech came just as the Trump administration announced it would aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, especially those with alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) or those in sensitive academic fields. On the same day, a federal judge blocked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from enforcing restrictions against Harvard’s enrollment of international students.
Jiang did not directly address the immigration crackdown, but told reporters afterward that the new visa threats had left her and fellow Chinese students anxious about their futures in the U.S. Some are now reconsidering overseas internships or jobs, fearing they may be unable to return if they leave.
Despite widespread praise, particularly in China, Jiang has faced backlash from conservative commentators in the U.S. A prominent X (formerly Twitter) account affiliated with Republican circles accused her of being affiliated with a CCP-linked NGO the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation. Critics claimed her message echoed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rhetoric on “a shared future for mankind.”
Jiang reportedly received a recommendation letter from the NGO’s secretary-general when applying to Harvard, but her critics argue this raises questions about her political neutrality. These accusations, however, remain unverified.
Jiang grew up in eastern China, attended high school in the UK, earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University, and completed her master’s at Harvard Kennedy School. Her international background and elite education have also sparked debate on Chinese social media about whether she truly represents the average Chinese student.
Despite the political storm, her message resonated with many who viewed her speech as a powerful reminder of the need for unity in a fractured world. “If we still believe in a shared future,” Jiang concluded, “let us not forget: those we label as enemies they, too, are human.”
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