The Chinese government has established a new three-child policy, ending its long-running two-child policy.
This decision from the Chinese government comes as a move to reserve the ageing population prevalent in China. Families can now have up to a maximum of three children instead of two.
Chinese Correspondent, Sui-Lee Wee, wrote that change will alleviate: “concerns that the rapidly rising number of older people in China could exacerbate a shortage of workers and strain the economy in the near future.”
China’s most recent census found that around 12 million babies were born last year – the lowest record of births since the 1960s. It also comes as a significant decrease from 2016 where there were a recorded 18 million births.
The Politburo, China’s top executive Communist Party committee said the change will come with: “supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country’s population structure, fulfilling the country’s strategy of actively coping with an ageing population and maintaining the advantage, endowment of human resources.”
China’s two-child policy becomes a three-child policy. But many young Chinese have no desire to have one let alone multiple children, especially in cities. Education too expensive, inadequate maternity/paternity provision usually cited as reasons.
— Yvonne Murray (@yvmurray) May 31, 2021
The Chinese public, particularly young 20 something’s doesn’t seem too keen on it.
Chinese social media sites such as Weibo were flooded with commentary.
“Don’t they know that most young people are already tired enough just trying to feed themselves?” one user wrote.
“Honestly, what people need are substantial benefits such as subsidies… not those superficial encouragements. People don’t want to have children not because the absence of a three-children policy, but because we can’t afford it,” wrote another user on Weibo.
Many hope the Government will financially support couples who choose to have three children.
