Beijing.\u00a0 A top family planning official dashed hopes that the One Child Policy will be abolished, or even modified significantly, any time soon. “We must unwaveringly adhere to the One Child Policy as a national policy to stabilize the low birth rate as the primary task,” stated Wang Xia, Chairman the National Population and Family Planning Commission, at a national conference on January 14.<\/p>\n
Wang Xia further stated, “We need to\u00a0keep the One-child policy and keep the national birth rate low . . . It’s our priority.”<\/p>\n
Chinese national media quoted expert opinions that \u201cthe current low birthrate is not stable, except for a few very\u00a0advanced major cities.\u00a0 In most areas of the nation, if they were to give up the One Child Policy, the current low birthrate would definitely rebound significantly. Therefore, in order to stabilize the low birthrate, it is necessary to hold on to the One Child Policy as a\u00a0basic national policy,\u201d according to a Zhong Xin China News Agency report.<\/p>\n
Wang\u2019s announcement came amidst criticisms by demographer Gu Baochang and statistician Ma Jiantang, that the declines in the labor force due to the Policy are endangering China\u2019s economic future.\u00a0 Ma Jiantang added that China should look into \u201can appropriate and scientific family planning policy,\u201d according to a Reuters report.<\/p>\n
Reggie Littlejohn, President of Women\u2019s Rights Without Frontiers, stated, \u201cGu Baochang and Ma Jiantang join a growing chorus of critics of the One Child Policy.\u00a0 The fact that criticism is growing does not warrant jumping to the conclusion that the policy is at an end.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch critics generally do not mention human rights abuses as the reason for reform.\u00a0 Nor do they advocate abolition of the policy, but rather gradual modification by transitioning to a two-child policy.\u00a0 Their concern is for the potentially devastating, long-term economic and demographic consequences of the policy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe central issue in the One Child Policy is not whether the government allows couples to have one or two children.\u00a0 Rather, it is the coercion with which this limit is enforced.\u00a0 Even with a two-child policy, women will still be subject to forced abortion if they get pregnant without a birth permit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, a two-child policy fails to discourage gendercide, the sex-selective abortion of baby girls.\u00a0 In areas where couples can have a second child if the first is a girl, gendercide is rampant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Littlejohn concluded, \u201cWang Xia\u2019s strong pronouncement should end speculation that China will abandon the One Child Policy in the foreseeable future.\u00a0 Forced abortion up to the ninth month of pregnancy, and gendercide \u2013 the sex-selective abortion of baby girls \u2013 will continue until all coercive birth limits are abolished.\u00a0 We at Women\u2019s Rights Without Frontiers are dismayed by this news, but will redouble our efforts to end this hideous crime against humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sign a petition against forced abortion in China:<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org\/index.php?nav=sign_our_petition<\/a><\/p>\n Watch a 4-minute video, Stop Forced Abortion, China\u2019s War on Women<\/p>\n Stop Forced Abortion \u2013 China\u2019s War on Women! Video (4 mins)<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org\/?nav=stop-forced-abortion<\/a><\/p>\n Read a translation of the Zhong Xin China News Agency report:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org\/blog\/?p=904<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Beijing.\u00a0 A top family planning official dashed hopes that the One Child Policy will be abolished, or even modified significantly, any time soon. “We must unwaveringly adhere to the One Child Policy as a national policy to stabilize the low … Continue reading