China faces backlash on move to reduce abortions as Beijing tries to boost birth rate to counter ageing population
- China has been struggling to boost its birth rate to counter a rapidly ageing population
- Many see the new policy as being similar to the level of government intervention in private lives seen during the one-child policy era
The Chinese government’s move to discourage abortions for “non-medical” purposes has been met by a public backlash, with many seeing this as an intrusive measure meant to raise the country’s birthrate.
The State Council said on Monday it will: “reduce the rate of abortions needed for non-medical reasons”, as part of its efforts to improve women’s health, according to a series of new guidelines addressing issues related to women and children in the country. The policy did not elaborate on how this would be achieved.
Though lowering the high abortion rate, largely generated by a preference for boys over girls, has been government policy for decades, the statement drew public attention immediately and was seen by many as restricting women’s rights amid an official drive to boost population growth to counter the country’s ageing population.
“It’s so funny that when they didn’t want so many people, they said fewer kids make you happy for the entire life, and when they wanted it, they said women should consider their health and avoid abortions. In the past, there were women who carried a second child being forced to get abortions, and now are they forcing people to get pregnant?” one Weibo user commented.
Li Ying, a Beijing-based women’s rights lawyer, said amid the authorities’ 180-degree change on family planning, it’s natural for women to worry that the authorities may now be imposing restrictions on access to abortions.