Every other country grants its people the basic freedom over whether or not to have children. Why not China?
“BOTH HUSBAND and wife have the duty to practise family planning.” In China these words are a threat, enshrined in the constitution. Failure to abide by the ruling party’s notion of the correct family size can result in punishment, with a large fine or the loss of a job. Among the mainly Muslim ethnic minorities in the far-western region of Xinjiang, women who exceed their allotted quota of children have been subjected to forced sterilisation and sent to detention camps.
Allowing three children is a big change from the draconian measures of 1979-2016. Back then, the enforcement of a one-child policy led to widespread abuses: compulsory abortions, the confiscation of property and even the razing of people’s homes. In most of China such horrors have abated as the regulations have eased.
Persuading people to have more children is very hard, as governments in many countries have found. As societies get richer, couples have fewer children and lavish more time and money on each one. The main reason Chinese couples today do not want large broods is that they feel they cannot afford them.
Many young Chinese people resist getting married, let alone having babies—the number of couples tying the knot each year has fallen by about 40% over the past seven years. Women want to work, and fear that their job prospects may be harmed should employers suspect that they may soon need time off in order to raise a family. The Politburo rightly says that employers should not discriminate against women, but officials often turn a blind eye to violations of employment law.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Russia warns of 'politicization' of COVID-19 origin as U.S., China accuse one other'We oppose politicization of the current situation and presume that the WHO should play a central role in identifying causes of the pandemic,' the Russian embassy in Washington told Newsweek.
Read more »
Taiwan, feuding with China, gets vaccines from JapanA flight carrying 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine from Japan touched down in Taiwan on Friday to help the vaccine-starved island fight its largest outbreak since the pandemic began. Taiwan, a self-governing island short of doses, has blamed China for interfering in a potential deal for another vaccine. Now it is more than doubling its vaccine supply thanks to Japan, which is trying to play a greater role in global vaccination distribution and accelerate its own slow rollout ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in July.
Read more »
China Reconsiders Its Central Role in Bitcoin MiningEntrepreneurs who create bitcoin have long flourished in the nation, despite an uneasy relationship with the central government. A recent warning of a crackdown highlights the cryptocurrency’s tenuous status in China, and might send some crypto miners to the West.
Read more »
South Korea’s cultural spats with China are growing more intenseKoreans are as barely more inclined towards China as they are towards North Korea. Young people take a particularly dim view of China
Read more »
Why Niacinamide Is One of the Most In-Demand Ingredients in Skin CareIt's not just hype, trust us.
Read more »
China tells U.S. 'look in the mirror' after American officials honor Tiananmen Square victimsBlinken also noted that police in Hong Kong banned a Tiananmen Square vigil to honor the victims. Authorities in China said that the gathering was against COVID-19 mitigation restrictions.
Read more »