Dual nationality stance needs a rethink

China must take a leaf from neighbors and change policy to retain talent

Since China initiated the opening-up and reform policy in 1979, the country has witnessed an outflow of talent. If China wants to retain talented minds, it must consider amending the law to allow dual nationality or a similar arrangement.

After 1979, there have been a total of about 7 million immigrants from China. There have been about 2 million Chinese students who have studied abroad since that year, with less than one-third choosing to return home after completing their studies.

Currently, more and more Chinese people are choosing to emigrate or study abroad and China is the largest source of international students in the United States.

It is also the second-largest source of immigrants to the US, trailing Mexico. Chinese immigrants to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan are also vast in number.

According to a report by the US government, a large proportion of Chinese students with doctorates in science are choosing to stay in the US (almost 92 percent, according to the report). According to Science magazine, most of the doctorate students from China are from Tsinghua University and Peking University.

Last year, US senators Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham jointly proposed a new immigration bill, which aims to improve green card issuances to immigrants. The two senators have advocated green cards for science and engineering students automatically after they obtain degrees and to cancel the country-specific restrictions on issuing green cards. US Energy Secretary Steven Chu has also suggested that foreign students be issued green cards.

In recent years, several policies implemented by China's neighboring countries are worth looking into. On Jan 1 this year the amendment to the Nationality Law in South Korea came into effect. The core content of the law allows overseas South Koreans, immigrants married to South Koreans and global talent to have dual nationalities.

Vietnam amended its law on nationality in 2009, and the new law allows foreign passport holders to hold dual nationalities as long as they do not give up their Vietnamese citizenship. After the implementation of the new Law, overseas Vietnamese can now have dual nationality status and get the same treatment that local Vietnamese enjoy in the country.

Currently, there are more than 90 countries and regions that recognize dual nationalities. Countries and regions that are recently opening up to dual nationalities are mainly the emerging economies. They are aware that it is a tough decision for overseas talent to give up their citizenship in developed countries. These emerging countries and regions therefore have started to accept dual citizenships. Other than South Korea and Vietnam, these countries include India, the Philippines, Brazil and Mexico.

Faced with an exodus of talent, the Chinese government must introduce new policies to attract more international talents to China.

China must re-evaluate the law to allow dual nationality. China recognized dual nationality in 1955 but the policy changed during the Cold War because China did not build diplomatic relations with the US and several East Asian countries at that time.

Previous Page 1 2 Next Page

Previous Page 1 2 Next Page