New | ‘That’s great! But…’: Chinese residents respond to long-awaited lifting of one-child policy

China on Thursday announced the end of its controversial one-child policy. Beijing says the decades-old policy has played a key role in the country’s economic success, but has also inflicted pain on many people. Chinese residents tell us what they think of the change. BEIJING “I have a three-year-old girl and I can have a second child even without the policy change. Still, the change is good as it will allow more couples to have a second child. It’s such a wonderful thing for a child to have a sibling as company.” – John Ge “I’ve immigrated and have two children. I like the new policy. But many may choose not to have more children although they are allowed to do so. Some employees at my workplace – even though they come from China’s top universities – earn just 5,000 yuan (HK$6,000) a month. It’s not easy to make a living and raise children with such high living costs in Beijing. It’s not for me to judge whether the change comes too late; any change in China doesn’t come easy.” – Yang Shu “I’m not married so I’m not affected by the policy change. But even if I were, I would still have to consider whether or not to have a second child. It takes hundreds of thousands of yuan to just one; how does anyone dare to have more children? It’s a good thing the government has finally lifted the restriction, though. People in my home village will no longer have to get abortions or pay a big fine for violating the birth control policy. I think having just one child is too much of a risk for families and too much pressure for the only child. If anything happens to that child, it would be such a disaster for their parents.” – Tom Zhang “I just met some of my childhood friends and we discussed the news. The policy change is such a good thing. I have a one-year-old child, and my wife, who is an only child, feels we should have another one. In fact, I’m from Fujian province and we like to have more children. The number of children should be a decision made by couples and not the government. Couples may not have more children because of this change, but they will appreciate the freedom to choose. I think the change comes a bit late, especially now that the population structure is clearly problematic; China is already a grey society. This change that came too late will definitely affect the national economy.” – Chen Wenhuan SHANGHAI “It’s not a bad idea, letting us have a second child. Unfortunately, it’s too late. My son has been asking me for years if he can have a younger brother or sister. But he’s already 10 years old and a sibling would be too young to communicate with him. I don’t think the new policy will substantially increase the birth rate given the heavy financial burden a second child would have on average households. Unless the government rolls out more incentives to encourage families to have more children – say, subsidies for those with two – the policy change won’t make a big difference at all. I would suggest the government come up with more detailed plans to increase education and medical resources so more families would be comfortable with having another child. It will be a long time before the new policy takes real effect.” – Ren Yun, 36, manager at a Shanghai state-owned travel agency “Frankly, I am too old to have a second child. For a man my age, this policy change might be good news because they can probably have a younger wife; but for me, it’s nothing. The family-planning policy was painful for the older generation because many of our parents were willing to have a second child when they were young. It’s too bad the government didn’t grant them their wish. For us, it’s a different world now. When you plan to have a second baby, you have to seriously think about your health, income and future. It’s not easy. For me, the focus will be on my son. Helping him grow up healthily is my priority. I would think most people my age would hold the same view.” – Lu Qili, 41, manager at the Shanghai branch of a Hong Kong company “I’m thrilled to hear the news because it means my family can now legally have a second child without concerns that it might cost my husband’s job in a state-owned design institute.” – Zhao Xiaohong GUANGZHOU “For myself and for my two-year-old son, it’s better for him to grow up with a sibling. Before, we were worried about the penalty and household registration if we had a second child. He or she might not have access to the same level of education and medical services as our first child does.” – Ma Jizhen, 30, housewife

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}New | ‘That’s great! But…’: Chinese residents respond to long-awaited lifting of one-child policy

New | ‘That’s great! But…’: Chinese residents respond to long-awaited lifting of one-child policy