China savages hugely popular female TV presenter after she gave birth to daughter in the US so she could get American citizenship

Journalist Chai Jing labelled unpatriotic for giving birth in the US



Users on China's version of Twitter expressed anger at her decision based her work advocating China



Debates rage on both sides whether she made the right move



Chinese journalist Chai Jing has been branded a hypocrite and traitor for giving birth to her daughter in the U.S. in October last year.

Chai, a China Central TV host, sparked the outcry based on her journalistic work.

She is dubbed the 'Chinese liberals’ goddess' and in the eyes of the public she is seen as an advocate for China.

As a journalist, Chai built an established career based on investigative work on the SARS outbreak, the Sichuan earthquake and coal mine accidents - becoming one of the country's most respected journalists.

Traitor: Giving birth to her daughter in the US last year has caused public debate in China over whether Jing, pictured in a US airport, did the right thing

In 2009 she spoke at the Beijing Journalists Association’s speech competition where she outlined the value of a strong nation.



The speech resonated deeply with the public and elevated Chai to celebrity journalist status.



'A country is built upon individuals; she is constructed and determined by them. It is only if a country has people who…build but do not take advantage of the land,' Chai said.

When photographs of Chai holding her new born daughter, Chai Zhiran, in a U.S. airport emerged, the Chinese public was hurt and angered.



Acclaim: Jing was held in high regard by the Chinese public for her work advocating China

Giving birth to her child in the U.S. was seen to undermine Chai's work advocating the country and the people took to the web to vent their rage and label her a hypocrite and traitor.



Despite there being no confirmation that Chai's daughter is a U.S. citizen, the move has been labelled as unpatriotic.

The images sent Weibio, China's version of Twitter with more than 300 million users, into a frenzy.

Off Beat China reported that users did not agree with Chai's decision and were vocal about their reasons.

'I have no problem of her giving birth in the U.S. But she shouldn’t put on a show on TV as if she is a patriot and cares about this country or its people,' one user said.