There is no cause for celebration and there should be no kudos for Chinese leaders until they completely abandon all efforts to dictate who may have children and how many children they may have.

The New Chinese One Child Policy

 is More of the Same

By Denise Hunnell, M.D.

Headlines have excitedly proclaimed that China is ending its one-child policy. The New York Times writes: “China to Ease Longtime Policy of 1-Child Limit”. The British tabloidThe Independent announces: “Great leap forward: China loosens notorious one-child policy which prevented up to 400m births to bankroll ageing population”. The Telegraphdramatically declares: “China to ditch its one-child policy as ageing crisis looms”. Additionally, Fox News predicts that such a significant policy change in China will be a boon to American farmers as the Chinese will need more American produce to feed their burgeoning population. However, once we move past the headlines and look at the details of this policy shift, it is clear that we need to hold the applause.

Since the 1970s, China has set up population planning commissions within its provinces to enforce a policy limiting urban couples to a single child. If both parents were only children, the couple received an exemption and was allowed to have a second child. The much ballyhooed current policy change now requires that only one parent be an only child in order to receive the exemption and have a second child. This falls far short of the seismic policy shift suggested by the headlines and is better characterized as a minor tweak.

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