Weibo users angered by portrayal of one-child policy on The Blacklist
The third episode of The Blacklist, a new NBC series in which the FBI and a former fugitive team up to fight terrorism, features a villain named Wujing, a Chinese spy who kills CIA operatives. The hunt for Wujing sparks discussion among FBI agents about his background as the second child in a Chinese family. Because of China's one-child policy, one of the agents claims, Wujing was cast out and became "invisible" to his family.
Chinese internet users have a message for the screenwriters of new US television drama The Blacklist: You've got a lot to learn about our country.
The third episode of The Blacklist, a new NBC series in which the FBI and a former fugitive team up to fight terrorism, features a villain named Wujing, a Chinese spy who kills CIA operatives.
The hunt for Wujing sparks discussion among FBI agents about his background as the second child in a Chinese family. Because of China's one-child policy, one of the agents claims, Wujing was cast out and became "invisible" to his family.
China's one-child policy is restrictive, but not as draconian as The Blacklist depicts. Some Chinese are not limited to one child. Exceptions for minorities, rural residents and others mean that a significant portion of China's population is allowed to have at least two children.
"If all second children had to be sent away, China would lose at least half of its population," remarked one weibo user.
When those who are subject to the one-child policy violate it, enforcement can be brutal, but it is also uneven. Many families find a way around the law, paying an administrative fee to get authorities off their backs.