The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected and continues to impact several areas of human lives and activities. With a particular focus on China, this reflection shares authors' observation on how COVID-19 may affect future trends of student mobility from and to the country. The reflection revealed that the impact of COVID-19 might not have a big negative impact on China. The declining interest of Chinese students to study abroad after COVID-19 will rather empower their home country. The reflection also revealed that the successful battle China has been leading and keeping the pandemic situation under control reassures international students to consider China as a protective destination for a future study plan. This study has relevant policy implications for understanding and informing international education actors of the change that may occur in student mobility trends and international higher education landscape due to COVID-19.