Introduction: Human Mines China’s Population Policy Flip Flops
China’s controversial population policy has been in place for over four decades, and has seen frequent flip-flops in recent years. The policy has been widely criticised for its human rights violations, and has sparked outrage across the world. It is estimated that over 300 million people have been born in China as a result of this policy, making it one of the most populous countries in the world. This article will explore how the policy has changed over time, the human rights implications of the policy and the public anger towards it.
Chinese One-Child Policy
The Chinese government first introduced the one-child policy in 1979. Under the policy, couples were only allowed to have one child, with exceptions made for couples with certain occupational or health-related issues. The policy was also enforced through a series of incentives and penalties, such as fines and loss of employment, as well as more extreme measures such as forced abortions and sterilizations. The policy was intended to reduce population growth in order to prevent economic and social problems, but it has been widely criticised for its human rights violations.
Criticism of the Policy
The one-child policy has been widely criticised for its human rights violations. Critics argue that it has resulted in forced abortions, sterilizations, and other forms of coercion. It has also been argued that the policy has led to a gender imbalance, as couples have often chosen to have boys over girls in order to meet the one-child limit. The policy has also been criticised for preventing couples from having the number of children they wish to have, as well as for its negative economic and social impacts.
Changes to the Policy
In 2013, the Chinese government announced that it would be relaxing the one-child policy, allowing couples to have two children if either parent was an only child. This change was seen as a positive step by many, as it allowed couples to have the number of children they desired. However, the policy was not completely abolished, as couples were still limited to two children.
Public Anger at the Policy
The one-child policy has been met with public anger and protests from those who feel that it violates human rights. Activists have also spoken out against the policy, arguing that it is outdated and should be abolished. In recent years, there have been a number of petitions and campaigns calling for the repeal of the policy.
Impact on Population Growth
Despite the changes to the policy, the one-child policy has had a significant impact on population growth in China. It has been estimated that over 300 million people have been born in China as a result of the policy, making it one of the most populous countries in the world. The policy has also had a significant effect on the age structure of the population, with an increasing proportion of elderly people.
Conclusion
China’s population policy has been in place for over four decades, and has seen a number of flip-flops in recent years. The policy has been widely criticised for its human rights violations and has sparked public anger and protests. It has also had a significant impact on population growth in China, with an estimated 300 million people born as a result of the policy. Despite the changes to the policy, it is clear that it has had a profound effect on the country, and that it needs to be abolished in order for the human rights of its citizens to be respected.
