China ends one-child policy

  • 29/10/2015
(iStock)
(iStock)

China has announced the end of its hugely controversial one-child policy after decades of strict, sometimes brutal enforcement left it with an ageing population and shrinking workforce that has heightened the challenges of slowing economic growth.

All couples will be allowed two children, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a communique issued by the ruling Communist Party following a four-day meeting in Beijing.

The historic change was "intended to balance population development and address the challenge of an ageing population", Xinhua said.

Campaigners welcomed the move, but stressed that a "two-child policy" still meant that China would retain population control mechanisms - while demographic changes will take decades to have an effect, and previous loosenings led to fewer extra births than expected.

The policy, instituted in the late 1970s, restricted most couples to only a single offspring and for years authorities argued that it was a key contributor to China's economic boom and had prevented 400 million births.

It was enforced by a dedicated national commission with a system of fines for violators and often forced abortions, leading to heartrending tales of loss for would-be parents.

But China's population - the world's largest at 1.37 billion - is now ageing rapidly, gender imbalances are severe, and its workforce is shrinking.

The concerns led to limited reforms in 2013, including allowing a second child for some couples in urban areas, but relatively few have taken up the opportunity.

Human rights organisations welcomed the change to the deeply unpopular policy, but expressed reservations about remaining controls.

It was "good news for the couples who wish to have a second child," Maya Wang of Human Rights Watch told AFP, but "the restrictions on reproduction rights remain in China".

"As long as the quotas and system of surveillance remains, women still do not enjoy reproductive rights," she said, adding that the change in policy was for "primarily economic reasons".

Amnesty International's William Nee said on Twitter: "'Two Child Policy' won't end forced sterilisations, forced abortions, gov control over birth permits."

AFP