That is good but also bad that departments try to admit more qualified domestic students, even though there are fewer applicants. Then on the PhD qualifiers, sometimes only half or so can pass. And then you are competing against these people at the qualifiers. In my field, there was even an outcry that there were so few US citizens able to get PhD in statistics, that some schools (including mine) took some steps to change that. Sure, you can get your foot in the door, but it is even harder getting out. Remember that in graduate school (you are on stipend, and tuition waiver), and there is not as much reason to do whatever you can to be kept there (like in some pharmacy schools and medical schools). So once you get in, even harder to get out. PharmD would be easier to finish than most PhD programs for several reasons. You are paying for your education, rather than having someone else pay it for you. So if you fail out of pharmacy school, there is a loss of investment for both you and the school.
Also, I have many international student friends from China. Many will do whatever they can to avoid coming back, even though I think the situation in China is really getting much better. And I even admire what the Chinese do, and the great development of the great nation of China. But for some reason, they still think they want to stay here.
So for those of you thinking of going to a PhD because you cannot get into pharmacy school, think again. The graduate school contains so many more difficulties than just a professional program.
If one really wants to do research in an area of something, or a specific job that requires a PhD (for example, staitstician in pharmaceutical industry, or quantitative finance, or pharmacokineticist), then absolutely go for the PhD and not a professional degree.
Do not use the PhD as a credential to get into pharmacy or medical school!!