China fans ask, will Yao Ming’s baby be American?

Yao’s personal life is closely followed by his many fans at home, from his 2007 Shanghai wedding to fellow basketball player Ye Li to last month’s reports the couple is expecting a baby girl in July.

The unborn child has already captured the public imagination in China, with fans trying to guess how tall he or she will eventually grow to be.

Both Mr Yao, 7’6″ tall (2.25 meter), and his wife Ye Li, 6’2″ (1.9-meter), are basketball players. Mr Yao, 29,  plays for the Houston Rockets NBA team while His wife is a former center for China. Both of Mr Yao’s parents were also basketball players. “This child will be a third generation basketball star!” wrote one anonymous commentator on a Chinese internet forum, with relish.

For the past few months, the couple have been in Shanghai, where Mr Yao has been recovering from a broken foot that has ended his NBA season.

Yao’s baby would automatically be an American citizen if born in the U.S. She also could claim Chinese citizenship as the child of Chinese nationals. However, Chinese law does not recognize dual citizenship.

The couple’s return to the US could deprive China of a future talent, according to some nervous fans, if the child gets an American passport. “This will not only be a huge loss to Chinese basketball, but as far as feelings are concerned, also something very difficult for Chinese fans to accept,” said the Chongqing Business Daily newspaper.

However, one internet commentator from Shanghai, named Kekeweiqi, wrote: “We have no right to interfere in the future of baby Yao. When baby Yao grows up, he or she will have the right to choose his or her own nationality and occupation.”

“Yao Ming is an individual, not a political tool,” said one comment on popular basketball Web site Hoop China. “He has the right to choose where his child is born and what kinds of medical care and education will be available to her. His child’s citizenship has nothing to do with loyalty.”

“Only an idiot would pass up American citizenship,” said another fan on online portal sina.com, underscoring the common belief in China that life overseas is preferable.

Yao and his camp have been tightlipped on the pregnancy and have not issued any public statements on the matter. It was not clear if Yao and his wife were indeed planning to have the baby in the U.S. or how they would handle any citizenship issues.

Yao spokesman Zhang Mingji declined to comment on the baby, saying it was a private matter. He said Yao was still recovering from his injury and was returning to the U.S. to continue treatment.

A number of Chinese celebrities — including actor Jet Li, actress Gong Li– have in recent years been criticized for becoming naturalized citizens of other countries (Both Jet Li and Gong Li have taken up Singapore citizenship). Chinese are subject to stringent visa requirements and some of the celebrities argued it was easier to travel internationally with passports from countries like Singapore or the U.S.