OPINION> Commentary
Actress well within rights
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-14 07:51

Gong Li should not be blamed for changing her citizenship for she has the same right as any other Chinese citizen to migrate to other countries, says an article in the Beijing News. The following is an excerpt:

China-born international actress Gong Li finally pledged to become a Singapore citizen on Nov 9 at a citizenship ceremony in Singapore, according to media reports in Singapore.

The switch of citizenship for celebrities is no news at all in today's world, but there are still some people who hate to see it and tend to link a switch of citizenship with a lack of patriotism. Some even cited the old story of Gong's absence in the annual sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as she was once a member of it. The Internet forums have been bombarded with this type of criticism against Gong.

Probably many people may hold a different opinion of Gong just because of her change of nationality. But it has nothing to do with Chinese netizens and has harmed the interests of nobody. So, we really do not understand why they are so angry. The celebrities have their own freedom to migrate to other countries and no one can interfere in any manner. It is ridiculous for some to brand Gong a traitor.

We should respect the legal rights of every citizen to change his or her nationality. Since Gong has a right to do so, we have no reason to attribute motives to her decision to change her nationality. It is unreasonable for us to show no tolerance of others when they use their own rights.

(China Daily 11/14/2008 page8)