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"Sea turtle" VS "Earth turtle"

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A controversial policy drew attention from people across China, as China's ministries promised to give preferential university admission to kids of talented overseas Chinese who are about to dedicate themselves for the country, which is thirsty for overseas talents.

China's 16 ministries, including Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Education under the State Council said in a circular that children of dedicated overseas Chinese gained an upper hand in college admission than any other counterparts, the CRI Online reported Friday.

The move is inevitably aimed at drawing excellent overseas Chinese to take part in the course of national prosperity. But the policy is confronting education equality in a country which is trying to build a harmonious society, a concept raised by President Hu Jintao.

Chinese students have to go through the most cutthroat competition in university admission. Every year, millions of high school students across the country will sit in classrooms to take the College Entrance Examination in order to have a slot in the country's universities.

Some 10 million will take the College Entrance Examination this year during June 6-7, with almost 50 per cent being knocked out, state media reported.

Chinese cyber world has been abounded with doubts on the promise, questioning its violations of the basic education equality across the nation.

"China's Constitution stipulates everyone is equal." one person wrote in China's popular forum 163.com.

Another said "no matter a sea turtle or an earth turtle, the pivotal issue is to set up an environment for equal competition."

Against the concept of equality, the promise raises speculation whether some 'sea turtles' will seek private gains by making use of their positions.

"Some will try to fulfill self-interest under the shield of this policy," one wrote on sohu.com, a major news portal in the country.

Many here call overseas Chinese 'sea turtles' while domestic ones 'earth turtles'. The fight between the two sides have been growing in the country's cyber world with most of its netizens believed the 'sea turtles' are breaking into the territory of the 'earth turtles', meaning those who have ever drunk 'Western ink' have to hunt for employment opportunities in China.

Some even sneered at those 'sea turtles', saying only those cannot compete in the foreign countries will have to consider backing to China.

Campaign to fight privileges

In addition to the fight, a concept of dealing with privileges is popular in a country, which is trying to deal with disparity to maintain social order and stability.

Recently, the government is aiming at the rich who are capable of challenging China's family-planning policy by paying fines of thousands of yuan to have a 2nd, even 3rd children

Officials in Chongqing Municipality will be sacked if they violate the family planning policy.

According to a survey by China's official Xinhua News Agency, more than 60 percent of Chinese netizens think it is unfair for rich and famous people to have more children than allowed.