China (country/area statements)
Asian-Pacific Population Programme News 14(3): 6-7
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-6718 PMID: 12267459 DOI: 10.2307/1776476Document Number: 417708
According to this statement presented to the Committee on Population of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, China is similar to other countries in the region in that its rate of population growth has declined due to government family planning efforts while the absolute size of the population continues to increase because of the widening population base. However, China's enormous population of over 1 billion sets it apart and places great strain on economic development efforts. In the past decade the Chinese government has provided population education for the masses, explaining the relationship between population and socioeconomic development, and its overall family planning program has helped reduce population growth from 24.82/1000 in 1974 to 10.81/1000 in 1984. The net population increase has been over 100 million in the past 10 years, and if the present rate of increase with a total fertility rate of 2.1 is maintained for another 15 years, the total population would exceed 1.3 billion by 2000, posing a grave threat to China's socioeconomic development. The nucleus of China's population policy is its birth policy, whose main points are to promote family planning so that population growth will be in keeping with socioeconomic development and the utilization of natural resources and environmental protection. The policy is in line with the principles and objectives of the World Population Plan of Action adopted in 1974. The government has advocated the practice of "1 couple, 1 child" since 1979 to carry out the population policy and limit the total population to about 1.2 billion by the century's end. 28.17 million couples, 18.25% of the 150 million married couples of childbearing age, had received 1-child certificates by the end of 1984. Generally speaking, most couples in urban areas would be satisfied with 1 child, while those in rural areas usually prefer 2 children. The family planning program is carried out through publicity, education, and provision of contraceptive services. Incentive and disincentive measures have been adopted in accordance with the specific conditions in different localities. Families with 2 or more children must pay fees to the public welfare fund to lighten the burden on society, and must space them properly. Instances of coercion occurring in some places were not caused by government policy but were in violation of the basic principle of integrating the government's guidance with the masses' voluntary acceptance. The female infanticide reported in the Chinese media reflected traditional feudal ideals left over from the old society. The offenders were duly punished by law, demonstrating the determination and capability of the government to overcome abuses. Among problems confronting the family planning program are a shortage of professionally trained demographers and family planning workers, weak data collection, analysis, and information services, and insufficient supplies of safe and effective contraceptives. UN funds have helped train personnel.