A Chinese national who lived and worked in Singapore was featured on Chinese national TV for her participation in the recent 60th anniversary celebrations

Zhang Yuanyuan, 28, had studied and lived in Singapore for five years and obtained permanent residency. According to Shin Min's report on Monday, Zhang taught Chinese in Singapore and earned about $4,000 a month.

It was reported in the Chinese evening dailies that upon receiving her permanent residency, someone had told her to consider taking up Singaporean citizenship as well and her answer was: "Beijing is my home."

Zhang is known to have contributed to her country during a snowstorm disaster in the north and during the Beijing Olympics in 2008, she decided to return to her homeland. She also accepted a job that paid much lesser.

During an interview where she allowed her Singapore IC to be photographed, she said she wanted to join China's women's militia contingent because her greatest wish was to repay the motherland.

Netizens on STOMP and AsiaOne forums expressed disappointment and anger at her decision.

However, one netizen commented that in a globalised economy, it was inevitable that permanent residents would freely move in and out of Singapore. AsiaOne forummer Mr Torres said: "There are many Singaporeans who hold permanent resident status in various countries, but their hearts remains with Singapore.

"With globalisation, such problems will be common. We have reached a point where foreign talents are unavoidable. Let's move on, and don't dwell on such issue."

But in an email to STOMP, netizen Stuntman Mike said: "With the influx of foreign talents, can we afford to trust them? After this incident, are we to treat them as equals?

» See also: Photos of "The Women's Army"

MPs speak up

Shin Min Daily interviewed a few MPs and this is what they have to say:

Sembawang GRC's Dr Lim Wee Kiak

"Netizens should not overreact because Zhang is a PR and still retains her Chinese passport. Hence, China is still her home.

"In fact, there are a number of Singaporeans who are PRs in another country and they visit Singapore on a frequent basis. Should we then turn them away?"

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC's Ms Josephine Teo

Ms Teo said she understands the perspectives of the netizens and knows that they are worried that foreigners are merely using Singapore as a springboard to other countries.

However, in Zhang's case, she had 'hopped' back to her own country and did not use her permanent residency to hop to another country.

She also reasoned that Zhang's duration in Singapore was probably not enough for her to feel she wanted to settle here.

"As a globalized nation, such situations will occur frequently and we must learn to accept that this is the case."

Tanjong Pagar GRC's Mr Baey Yam Keng

Mr Baey reckons that such situations depend on the person's emotional attachment to the country.

"Zhang grew up in China and her entire family is there. Perhaps family ties are more important to her now than before."

He also told Shin Min Daily that Singaporeans living overseas still regard Singapore as their home and most of them end up returning here.