Shadow of aging population falls over family planning

Source:Global Times Published: 2012-8-8 20:25:04

Illustration: Sun Ying
Illustration: Sun Ying

Family planning enforcement should say no to forced abortions. As early as the late 1970s, former vice premier Chen Muhua clearly put forward this view on a seminar on family planning and population issues in Chengdu.

The National Population and Family Planning Commission, which I work for, held a working conference recently to summarize the first half of the year, stressing that the country would resolutely put an end to late-term forced abortions.

In the 1980s, family planning was vigorously carried out nationwide. Violent slogans were common at the time, such as "refusing an abortion will lead to the demolition of your house," and "try to hide your pregnancy and you'll end up in jail," and so on. 

However, these violent slogans have gradually disappeared since the 1990s. Since then, family planning laws have already been relaxed in China.

The current Population and Family Planning Law was published in 2001. Its policies and rules changed gradually from rigid stipulations to a softer approach, and toward a more careful and humane approach.

For instance, where the requirements specified by laws and regulations are met, plans for a second child, if requested, may be made.

In some rural areas, a woman can give birth to another child if her first child is a girl.

Some ethnic minorities are also allowed to have second or even third children.

According to related policies, women who are over six months pregnant without authorization should be punished by being charged a social maintenance fee. Forced abortions, especially in the late term, should be abolished. 

From a macro perspective, it is too radical to deny the achievements of China's one-child policy because of the forced abortions.

After the publishing of the "open letter" on September 25, 1980 that called for members of the Communist Party of China and the Communist Youth League of China to have only one child, the one-child policy has followed a tortuous but brilliant course.

Although the policy has generated several problems, generally speaking, the advantages have outweighed the disadvantages.

But surely, adjustments are needed, and demographic issues wait in the wings.

By 2020, 17 percent of China's population will be over 60 years old, about 248 million people. This will squeeze our public finances and cause severe development problems if the growing numbers of the aged cannot be handled well.

Therefore, we should adjust our existing family planning policy to meet the wave of change. The population will continue to grow until 2030. To avoid plunging numbers after that point, we need to make the adjustment in a short period.

If we don't do it where there's still room for flexibility, we'll hit the point where other factors constrain people's willingness to have kids. Then it'll be too late to change.

The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Shu Meng based on an interview with Song Jie, a member of the expert committee of National Population and Family Planning Commission and former vice director of the Heilongjiang Provincial Population Association. shumeng@globaltimes.com.cn



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