@China Bohs – Very informative. Thanks for the update.
IMO, the visa changes are probably unfounded rumors
Did you read this thread before you came to that conclusion? It seems a bit odd that the PSB would hold meetings and provide information about an unfounded rumor. Even the UK government has been fooled:
https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/chinese-government-announce-new-immigration-laws
I checked, still carry the same visa types and F is very much there.
Under the new rules F is still a valid visa type.
My guess is that they are experimenting with new visa types and procedures in the country before rolling then out worldwide.