Top Chinese Journalist Criticized for Giving Birth in the US · Global Voices
Abby Liu

One of China's top journalists and TV anchors, Chai Jing, has caused a stir online after she gave birth in the US, with some netizens calling her a “traitor” or a “liberal hypocrisy”.
After pictures of Chai holding a newborn baby at an airport were published online, reports surfaced that she had given birth to a daughter in the US in October 2013. Obviously, the benefit is that the child becomes a US citizen.
A highly respected reporter in China, Chai is known for her sharpness, persistence and her direct, cut-to-the point interview technique. She made her name for covering the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the Sichuan earthquake in 2008.
Chai Jing holding a newborn baby at an airport. Photo from Sina Weibo
Chai giving birth in the US has disappointed a lot of her fans, with many calling her hypocritical.
Netizen “Tan” wrote:
我们应该明白一点，公知们抨击或批评这个生他养他的国家，不是爱这个国家而是为了有天有扑向美欧等国家怀抱的资本。什么人批评这个国家的不足才是真心的?只有永远是中国人的我们。
We should understand that these public figures attack or criticize their home country, not because they love this country but one day have the capability to embrace the United States, Europe and other countries. Which kind of people who criticize this country are more sincere? Only those who will always be Chinese.
However, a large number of people also expressed their support. Some were sad about the emigration trend among China’s middle class, calling for reflection among Chinese top leaders:
不懂怎么念燊微博达人：非常现实，高层应该反思为何这样，柴静看到未来，她有能力为自己孩子选择一个更为公平公正，制度健全的国家，别人没道理评论。想想自己有能力会不会加入美国籍就懂了。
Very realistic, higher-ups should reflect on why things like this happen. When thinking about the future, she has the ability to select a country with a more fair, equal and sound system for his child. It’s not for anyone else to comment on. If you have the ability, would you become a US citizen? Think about it and you will understand.
文人医生：自己不能改变现状，手中没有选票，为什么孩子还不能改变？柴静在哪里生孩子是自己的自由和私事。
We ourselves cannot change the status quo in this country, we do not have the votes, why can’t we make a change for our children? It’s Chai Jing’s own freedom and personal matter to decide where her child should be born.
Commentator Liu Xuesong wrote [zh]:
个人爱不爱这个国家，最重要的不是看他把孩子生在哪里，而是看他在这个国家的公民角色中，担了多少当，做了多少有益的事。这个国家值不值得爱，倒是与这个国家的集体意识中，是否展示了大爱的包容、和谐、友善等宽厚本色，是否将注意力放在了富强、公正、文明等向上向善的追求上有关。
Whether one is patriotic or not, the most important thing is not to find out where the child was born, but to see his role as a citizen in this country, and how many good deeds he has done. Whether if it is worth it to love this country has something to do with the collective consciousness of this country, whether it shows love, harmony, friendliness and generosity and whether it focuses on the prosperity, justice and civilization.
Another netizen wrote [zh]:
有网民说，他只是希望孩子有比较正常的生活方式，无关爱国。也许，这才是为政者应该反思的问题。
Some netizens said that she only wants the child to have a more normal lifestyle, which has nothing to do with patriotism. Perhaps, this is the problem the government should reflect on.