About Population Policy
Move for bigger families gets support
By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-26 07:39
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Many members of the public have expressed support for Beijing to take the national lead in easing the three-decade-old family planning policy, by allowing families to have a second child, even as officials could not confirm such a move.
"Couples should have the right to decide their family size," Peng Yuhua, deputy director of Beijing Population and Family Planning Commission, was quoted as saying.
Peng yesterday denied the newspaper's report, without giving any further details.
Under the current family planning policy, implemented since the late 1970s and designed to last one generation, or 30 years, most urban couples are restricted to one child. Only couples who are both the single child in their families can have a second child themselves.
The proposed Beijing adjustment comes at a time when fertility rates have remained low in China, particularly in cities, and would be of great significance nationwide if it were real, said Professor Yuan Xin with the Tianjin-based Nankai University's population and development institute.
"Family size should be decided within the family and that right should be respected by the government," he said.
Official statistics showed that couples in China now have an average of 1.8 children, a birth rate that has been steady for over a decade. Shanghai has kept a negative population fertility rate for 16 years.
Even worse, "the harsh phenomenon is spreading nationwide and is expected to cover the entire nation by 2030", Yuan said.
Yu Xuejun, a division director with the National Population and Family Planning Commission (NPFPC), said it was an experiment for China to have its fertility rate drop from 5.81 in 1970 to the current 1.8 level within two decades mainly through the family planning policy, which has brought new challenges like an aging society, unbalanced sex ratio and changing population structure.
NPFPC deputy director Zhao Baige has also previously expressed her concerns over the issue. "We've noticed the challenges and are researching a comprehensive and sustainable population policy, which covers not only the size, but the structure, quality, and distribution of the population," she said.
Zhai Zhenwu, director of the school of population and sociological studies at Renmin University of China, suggested that the policy adjustment should start after 2011 with a smooth transition.
"The task of controlling population growth is nearly complete. The adjustment of the population policy and regulations should be conducted before it is too late," said Professor Qiao Xiaochun with Peking University.
Demographic studies have found about 63 percent of the couples in China are restricted to one child and 70 percent of them are willing to have a second one if permitted.
Some give up the idea for fear of the high cost of raising children, including housing and education costs.
