As China Rises, the U.S. Green Card Loses Some of Its Shine. By Johnson Choi, Dec 1 2025

隨著中國崛起，美國綠卡的光芒有所褪色. 作者: 蔡永強, 2025年12月1日

For decades, the U.S. green card symbolized upward mobility for many Chinese families—a gateway to world-class education, economic freedom, and a perceived higher quality of life. But sentiment is shifting. A growing number of Chinese now believe that the American permanent residency card is no longer as valuable as it once was, reflecting changes in both global power dynamics and personal priorities.

The phrase “東升西降”—literally “the East rises as the West declines”—has become a popular shorthand to describe China’s growing economic confidence and the sense that Western nations are facing political gridlock, rising living costs, and social instability. While the reality is far more complex, the perception itself is reshaping attitudes toward emigration.

Many in China’s middle and upper-middle class have begun to reassess the trade-offs of moving abroad. The allure of U.S. residency is tempered by concerns such as increasing visa scrutiny, higher taxes, polarized domestic politics, and a less predictable immigration environment. At the same time, China’s own expanding opportunities—in technology, finance, manufacturing, and global trade—reduce the sense of urgency that once pushed talent overseas.

This does not mean the U.S. green card has lost its appeal entirely. It remains highly sought after by students seeking academic mobility, entrepreneurs looking for global access, and families aiming for long-term educational advantages. But it is no longer a universally coveted prize. Instead, it has become a strategic choice weighed against a wider range of domestic and global options.

The shift reflects a broader reality: as China continues to rise on the world stage, the psychological and practical calculus of immigration is evolving. What was once a one-directional flow of ambition toward the West is now a more dynamic, multi-directional movement shaped by opportunity, identity, and changing global narratives.

數十年來，美國綠卡對許多中國家庭而言，象徵著階級流動的契機——是一扇通往世界級教育、經濟自由與更高生活品質的大門。然而，如今這種情感正在轉變。越來越多中國人認為，美國永久居留證已不如以往那般珍貴，這既反映了全球權力格局的變化，也體現了個人優先順序的轉移。

「東升西降」這個詞，已成為一種流行的簡稱，用以描述中國日益增長的經濟自信，以及一種認為西方國家正面臨政治僵局、生活成本上升和社會動盪的感受。儘管現實情況遠比此更為複雜，但這種認知本身正在重塑人們對移民的態度。

中國中產及中上階層的許多人，開始重新權衡移居海外的得失。美國居留權的吸引力，正被諸多顧慮所抵消，例如日益嚴格的簽證審查、更高的稅負、兩極化的國內政治，以及越發難以預測的移民環境。與此同時，中國自身在科技、金融、製造業和全球貿易領域不斷擴大的機會，也降低了以往那種驅使人才流向海外的緊迫感。

這並不意味著美國綠卡已完全失去吸引力。對於追求學術流動的學生、尋求全球通路的企業家，以及瞄準長期教育優勢的家庭而言，它依然備受追捧。但它已不再是一個普遍渴望的獎賞。相反地，它已成為一種戰略選擇，需要在更廣泛的國內外選項中仔細衡量。

這種轉變反映了一個更廣泛的現實：隨著中國持續在世界舞台上崛起，關於移民的心理與現實考量正在演變。曾經單向流向西方的抱負，如今已轉變為一種更為動態、多向的流動，其形塑因素包括機會、身分認同，以及不斷變化的全球敘事。