CCP Official Media: Overseas Returnee Talents Should Not Be Stigmatized
China's official media, Economic Daily (China), published a commentary arguing that overseas Chinese talents returning to China should not be stigmatized. The article emphasizes that "competition between great powers is essentially talent competition" and that China should prioritize talent exchange and create a favorable environment for research.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 19:39
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei 6th) In response to some Chinese citizens and businesspeople questioning whether overseas returnee experts are "second-rate talents," "returning for retirement," or "spies," the CCP official media Economic Daily (China) today published a commentary article stating that "sea turtles" (overseas returnees) should not be stigmatized, and that the "essence of competition among great powers" is "talent competition." China should therefore attach more importance to talent exchange and create a friendly environment for talents to conduct research with peace of mind.
This article, titled "Overseas Returnee Talents Should Not Be Stigmatized," stated that the return of high-level overseas talents to China for development should be a good story of "wanderers returning home" and contributing to the nation through scientific research, but online there are often idle rumors, including phrases like "those who return are second-rate talents" and "they return for retirement."
The article directly points out that such language is short-sighted and narrow-minded, not only incompatible with the current situation of frequent global talent mobility, but also harms China's overseas returnee talents.
The article stated that overseas exchange is still an important channel for China to cultivate high-level international talents. Data shows that more than 70% of the academic leaders for national key projects (research leaders with achievements in academic fields), more than 70% of the presidents of universities directly under the Ministry of Education, and most of the presidents of Class A tertiary hospitals (China's highest-tier hospitals) are returnees who studied abroad.
The article mentioned that the "essence of competition among great powers" is talent competition. Whoever can attract the world's top minds will gain the upper hand in leading the direction of scientific and technological development and setting future rules. In this situation, China should attach more importance to talent exchange and create a friendly environment that allows talents to conduct research with peace of mind.
The article concluded by saying that having the broad-mindedness to "gather talents from all over the world and make use of them" is true national confidence.
Yan Ning, a renowned bioscientist who was recruited back to China and is now an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and founding dean of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, was ridiculed by some Chinese netizens in April for allegedly "not being able to make it abroad" and only then returning to China. Some netizens also said that artificial intelligence (AI) would cause bioscientists like Yan Ning to face unemployment. Yan Ning publicly rebutted these claims at the time.
On April 22, 2025, Dong Mingzhu, chairperson of Chinese home appliance giant Gree Electric, stated at a provisional shareholders' meeting that Gree "absolutely will not use 'sea turtles,' as there are spies among them, and I don't know who is who. I can only choose conservatively and trust in cultivating our own talents in domestic universities." This immediately caused a public outcry, with critics pointing out her outdated management philosophy and deep-seated prejudice against overseas returnees. (Editors: Qiu Guogiang / Tang Peijun) 1150506
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(Central News Agency, Taipei 6th) In response to some Chinese citizens and businesspeople questioning whether overseas returnee experts are "second-rate talents," "returning for retirement," or "spies," the CCP official media Economic Daily (China) today published a commentary article stating that "sea turtles" (overseas returnees) should not be stigmatized, and that the "essence of competition among great powers" is "talent competition." China should therefore attach more importance to talent exchange and create a friendly environment for talents to conduct research with peace of mind.
This article, titled "Overseas Returnee Talents Should Not Be Stigmatized," stated that the return of high-level overseas talents to China for development should be a good story of "wanderers returning home" and contributing to the nation through scientific research, but online there are often idle rumors, including phrases like "those who return are second-rate talents" and "they return for retirement."
The article directly points out that such language is short-sighted and narrow-minded, not only incompatible with the current situation of frequent global talent mobility, but also harms China's overseas returnee talents.
The article stated that overseas exchange is still an important channel for China to cultivate high-level international talents. Data shows that more than 70% of the academic leaders for national key projects (research leaders with achievements in academic fields), more than 70% of the presidents of universities directly under the Ministry of Education, and most of the presidents of Class A tertiary hospitals (China's highest-tier hospitals) are returnees who studied abroad.
The article mentioned that the "essence of competition among great powers" is talent competition. Whoever can attract the world's top minds will gain the upper hand in leading the direction of scientific and technological development and setting future rules. In this situation, China should attach more importance to talent exchange and create a friendly environment that allows talents to conduct research with peace of mind.
The article concluded by saying that having the broad-mindedness to "gather talents from all over the world and make use of them" is true national confidence.
Yan Ning, a renowned bioscientist who was recruited back to China and is now an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and founding dean of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, was ridiculed by some Chinese netizens in April for allegedly "not being able to make it abroad" and only then returning to China. Some netizens also said that artificial intelligence (AI) would cause bioscientists like Yan Ning to face unemployment. Yan Ning publicly rebutted these claims at the time.
On April 22, 2025, Dong Mingzhu, chairperson of Chinese home appliance giant Gree Electric, stated at a provisional shareholders' meeting that Gree "absolutely will not use 'sea turtles,' as there are spies among them, and I don't know who is who. I can only choose conservatively and trust in cultivating our own talents in domestic universities." This immediately caused a public outcry, with critics pointing out her outdated management philosophy and deep-seated prejudice against overseas returnees. (Editors: Qiu Guogiang / Tang Peijun) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download Central News Agency's "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated instantly.
Texts, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
Keywords: