rockin'robin
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BEIJING — More than 30 years after China imposed its controversial “one-child” policy, Beijing's ruling Communist Party brought the program to an end Thursday, saying all couples would now be allowed to have two children.
The decision to remove the restrictions limiting most couples to a single child was made "to improve the balanced development of (China's) population," the party said in an official communique distributed by the state-run Xinhua News Agency. The announcement came as the party wrapped up a Beijing meeting about China's development plans for the next five years.
The restrictions were introduced in 1980 to aggressively cap the number of children Chinese couples could have in an attempt to reduce the burden on resources amid the country's rapidly expanding population.
But in recent years the policy has been gradually relaxed as the country has experienced three decades of economic growth and struggles with an aging population. Younger generations also feel less compelled to accept high levels of state involvement in their private lives.
Within minutes, the news went viral on social media. Many were unhappy with the change, saying they were now too old or poor to have a second child, while some noted they didn't support the shift because it could mean more damage to the environment and a greater drain on social services.
“I still remember the day 20 years ago, when some officials from local government grabbed me like a criminal and forced me to get my tubes tied. Now, the day I can have the second child has finally come, but I am too old. I am so sad!” said a 50-year-old Sina Weibo user — China's equivalent to Twitter — by the name of "Jang-Soyeon."
Others were excited the change had finally been made. A user named "Aiyichupin," 29, from Beijing, took to the micro-blogging service to say that the "government should have abandoned the insane one-child policy years ago. The day has finally come.”
The United Nations estimates that as a result of China's falling birth rate its population will age faster than many other developing countries, and the decline will not stabilize before the middle of the 21st century.
Within seven years, India's population (now 1.3 billion) is expected to surpass China's (currently 1.4 billion), according to the U.N. China is currently the world's most populous nation.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...dia-china-abandons-one-child-policy/74788824/
The decision to remove the restrictions limiting most couples to a single child was made "to improve the balanced development of (China's) population," the party said in an official communique distributed by the state-run Xinhua News Agency. The announcement came as the party wrapped up a Beijing meeting about China's development plans for the next five years.
The restrictions were introduced in 1980 to aggressively cap the number of children Chinese couples could have in an attempt to reduce the burden on resources amid the country's rapidly expanding population.
But in recent years the policy has been gradually relaxed as the country has experienced three decades of economic growth and struggles with an aging population. Younger generations also feel less compelled to accept high levels of state involvement in their private lives.
Within minutes, the news went viral on social media. Many were unhappy with the change, saying they were now too old or poor to have a second child, while some noted they didn't support the shift because it could mean more damage to the environment and a greater drain on social services.
“I still remember the day 20 years ago, when some officials from local government grabbed me like a criminal and forced me to get my tubes tied. Now, the day I can have the second child has finally come, but I am too old. I am so sad!” said a 50-year-old Sina Weibo user — China's equivalent to Twitter — by the name of "Jang-Soyeon."
Others were excited the change had finally been made. A user named "Aiyichupin," 29, from Beijing, took to the micro-blogging service to say that the "government should have abandoned the insane one-child policy years ago. The day has finally come.”
The United Nations estimates that as a result of China's falling birth rate its population will age faster than many other developing countries, and the decline will not stabilize before the middle of the 21st century.
Within seven years, India's population (now 1.3 billion) is expected to surpass China's (currently 1.4 billion), according to the U.N. China is currently the world's most populous nation.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...dia-china-abandons-one-child-policy/74788824/
