China introduces new initiatives to boost birth rate… but critics are skeptical
After decades of pushing population control propaganda on its citizens, the Chinese government has been attempting to reverse course and convince its citizens to have more babies.
After decades of forcing couples to have just one child — going as far as to forcibly abort children — and convincing generations that one was the right number of children to have, the Chinese government amended its population control policies in 2016 and then again in 2021, but those changes are not having an effect. According to Newsweek, in October, China’s State Council created a new group of measures aimed at increasing the birth rate. Those measures include childcare support services, housing, employment, the expansion of medical insurance to cover labor pain relief, and initiatives to create a “birth-friendly social atmosphere.” Maternity leave has also been extended to 158 days and paternity leave is a minimum of 15 days.
The new initiatives will also include expanding medical insurance to cover assisted reproductive services such as in vitro fertilization.
Critics are skeptical the initiatives will work, given that they have not been successful in other countries.
“The driving force behind the declining fertility rates in China, as well as in other Asian countries, is the shift in social norms and lifestyle, which increasingly discourage marriage, particularly among women,” said Elliott Fan, professor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Economics.
He told Newsweek, “Broadly speaking, there are no highly effective policy measures capable of halting this downward trend, let alone reversing it. While cash transfers, subsidies and maternal leave provide some support, their impact remains limited.”
The Chinese government surveyed 30,000 people across 150 counties to try to learn more about the public’s attitude surrounding children. The hope is that this will offer ways to refine the new policies.
China’s attempt to increase the fertility rate only applies to certain groups within the country, however. China is currently committing genocide against Uighur Muslims, including forced abortions and newborn infanticide, which is likely to continue despite the government’s latest efforts.
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