China’s population has experienced negative growth for two consecutive years, making “rescuing the birth rate” a top priority. A population policy document from Quanzhou, Fujian Province, called for its Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members and officials to have three children, raising public concerns about “undercover coercion to have children.” The Quanzhou Health Commission later explained that the document was still in the internal review stage and was mistakenly published due to staff oversight.
Since the implementation of China’s three-child policy in 2021, local measures to support the policy have garnered attention. The leaked document from Quanzhou outlined work arrangements for implementing the policy, including a call for CCP members, government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and public institutions to take the lead in having three children.
The approach echoes a directive given in 1980, when the Communist Party urged members to have only one child, marking the beginning of China’s one-child policy era. The Quanzhou Health Commission clarified that the document was still in draft form and not yet officially released.
Quanzhou, an economically prominent city in Fujian Province, has seen significant growth, with its public budget revenue exceeding 100 billion yuan in 2023.
As China faces population decline, boosting birth rates has become a government priority. The National Healthcare Security Administration reported that four provinces and cities have included assisted reproductive technology in medical insurance coverage since 2023.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), July 21, 2024
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202407210065.aspx