ponytail
03-10-2008, 02:40 PM
China One-Child Policy to Stay in Place
4 hours ago
BEIJING (AP) — China will not consider changing its one-child policy for at least a decade for fear that a population surge could spark social and economic instability, the nation's top family planning official said in an interview published Monday.
Zhang Weiqing of the State Population and Family Planning Commission told the official China Daily newspaper that the one-child rule should be maintained for now.
"Given such a large population base, there would be major fluctuations in population growth if we abandoned the one-child rule now," he was quoted as saying. "It would cause serious problems and add extra pressure on social and economic development."
Any change in the policy would be considered only after the end of the country's next birth peak in 10 years, Zhang said. Over the next decade, nearly 200 million people are expected to enter childbearing years.
"After the new birth peak ends, we may adjust the policy if there is need," he said in the front-page story.
The policy, launched during the late 1970s, has prevented an additional 400 million births. China's population currently stands at 1.3 billion, growing 16 to 17 million annually.
The one-child limit actually applies to only a portion of the population. In general, urban couples are restricted to one while rural couples are allowed up to two if their first child is a girl. The country's often disadvantaged ethnic minorities are also exempt from these rules.
Critics say the policy has led to forced abortions, sterilizations and an imbalanced gender ratio due to a traditional preference for male heirs.
***
First let me say that I'm appalled that any country presumes to dictate over its citizen's personal lives.
But having just eaten at the local family restaurant, I'm considering lobbying for a similar policy in PA...:rolleyes:
4 hours ago
BEIJING (AP) — China will not consider changing its one-child policy for at least a decade for fear that a population surge could spark social and economic instability, the nation's top family planning official said in an interview published Monday.
Zhang Weiqing of the State Population and Family Planning Commission told the official China Daily newspaper that the one-child rule should be maintained for now.
"Given such a large population base, there would be major fluctuations in population growth if we abandoned the one-child rule now," he was quoted as saying. "It would cause serious problems and add extra pressure on social and economic development."
Any change in the policy would be considered only after the end of the country's next birth peak in 10 years, Zhang said. Over the next decade, nearly 200 million people are expected to enter childbearing years.
"After the new birth peak ends, we may adjust the policy if there is need," he said in the front-page story.
The policy, launched during the late 1970s, has prevented an additional 400 million births. China's population currently stands at 1.3 billion, growing 16 to 17 million annually.
The one-child limit actually applies to only a portion of the population. In general, urban couples are restricted to one while rural couples are allowed up to two if their first child is a girl. The country's often disadvantaged ethnic minorities are also exempt from these rules.
Critics say the policy has led to forced abortions, sterilizations and an imbalanced gender ratio due to a traditional preference for male heirs.
***
First let me say that I'm appalled that any country presumes to dictate over its citizen's personal lives.
But having just eaten at the local family restaurant, I'm considering lobbying for a similar policy in PA...:rolleyes: