China's current legal system has more restrictions on its own citizens than on foreign citizens. This explains why so many Chinese citizens aim for foreign nationality. For example, in the early 1980s, Chinese citizens were granted fewer favorable tax policies than foreign businesses in China. As a result, some Chinese transferred their assets overseas and later invested in China as overseas Chinese. Today the situation has been changed to some extent, but the problem still exists.

Thus, the focus should not be on dual nationality, as it is not the key of the solution. What the government needs to do is to tangibly protect Chinese citizens' property and rights. If not, the practice of dual nationality may be taken advantage of by some people in order to get certain protection. Meanwhile, ordinary Chinese will bear the various inconveniences and miseries brought on by the dual nationality system.

It is time now for the government to strengthen exit and entry administration and find those who possess dual nationality, so that those who openly violate the law will be punished. Only through proper enforcement can we safeguard the dignity of the Chinese legal system and prevent some foreign people from taking advantage of China's limited resources.

Zhang Fengyi (www.xinhuanet.com): Why has dual nationality been a reality in China? One important issue is that China's exit and entry administration system is managed by different ministries, such as the Public Security Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If a unified administration platform is set up, these ministries will share information, which will make it difficult for people to hide their dual nationality.

Some Chinese citizens obtain dual nationality to secure another country's welfare, but the same people don't want to give up the convenience of China's own perks. Maintaining their citizenship is necessary for them to do business in China. Some foreigners, too, have housing properties and businesses in China under the guise of Chinese citizenship. In order to retain talent and capital, some local governments turn a blind eye to the existence of dual nationality.

Such violations harm not only the dignity of China's rule of law, but also make it difficult for authorities to enforce laws. Cracking down on dual nationality is an urgent task. It requires information sharing among different departments and tougher fines for law violation.

Dual allegiance

Chen Jieren (www.eeo.com.cn): Currently, about 70 countries explicitly allow dual nationality, such as France, Switzerland, and Canada. Those who clearly refuse to admit dual nationality include China and Russia, while some other countries hold a vague attitude toward the issue, like Britain and the United States.

China is a country deeply influenced by its thousand-year-old traditional culture. Chinese culture stresses the importance of the country and requires citizens' loyalty to the country. In a theoretical poll, most Chinese will choose not to permit dual nationality. In practice, a single nationality system would also ease many diplomatic disputes and other problems.

Although refusing to admit dual nationality is a reasonable option, the trend of globalization and frequent talent flow suggests it is wise for China to modify its current Nationality Law. Acknowledging dual nationality while restricting its use among public servants may be one solution. If a government official chooses dual nationality, then it should be required that they resign from official duties.

Allowing dual nationality will attract more foreign talent to work for China and will also help Chinese immigrants feel at ease in other countries, knowing they can come back to China at any time.

As far as the nationality problem is concerned, we need to understand a basic idea: it's no use to retain those who are determined to leave this country. Admitting dual nationality reflects confidence and tolerance.

Wang Huiyang (Global Times): Despite a surplus in business trade, China has long suffered a deficit in "talent trade." This is a big loss to the country. Since the late 1970s when China carried out its opening-up policy, about 2 million Chinese students have studied overseas, but less than one third of them have come back.

We have now entered the era of talent flows. China's continuous development will to a large extent depend on a huge talent pool. The blocked talent flow nowadays has already hindered China's further economic development. This requires China to formulate a series of attractive polices, such as the tolerance of dual nationality.

Now, we lack an attractive immigration policy that can bring in talent from abroad. China's current policies fail to attract the best and brightest that plan for long-term development in China.

China is concerned that dual nationality policy may affect relationship with some Southeast Asian countries, but this was in the past. Perhaps China should first consider allowing dual nationality with countries that do not share a sensitive history. If it does not establish a new set of policies, China should at least take a more flexible stance. Providing overseas Chinese certain certificates to confirm their identity as overseas Chinese, or simplifying complicated procedures for visa applications, will make it easier for overseas Chinese to come back home.

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