China hints at three-child policy with 'happy family' stamps
Speculation is mounting in China that the country is set to further relax its two-child policy and allow people to have more children.
Postage stamps unveiled earlier this week to mark the incoming Year of the Pig in February 2019 have led many social media users to question whether a loosening of family planning restrictions could be imminent.
The stamps show a parent pig couple and three piglets. On the surface, it hardly appears to be a policy announcement. But users on the popular Sina Weibo microblog have pointed out that two years ago, before the one-child policy was abolished, China issued Year of the Monkey stamps featuring two baby monkeys.
And in recent months, the Chinese government has been strongly encouraging couples to have more than one child. Local authorities have even been offering incentives, such as tax breaks, and education and housing subsidies.
A 2015 UN report projected that China's population would decline to about 1 billion by 2100, although some experts put the number even lower.
Related: China's 'Missing Girls' Theory Likely Far Overblown, Study Shows
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It's common for media and academics to cite the statistic that China's one-child policy has led to anywhere from 30 million to 60 million "missing girls" that has created a gender imbalance in the world's most populous nation.
But a University of Kansas researcher is a co-author of a study that has found those numbers are likely overblown, and that a large number of those girls aren't missing at all—it was more of an administrative story that had to do with how births are registered at local levels in China.
"People think 30 million girls are missing from the population. That's the population of California, and they think they're just gone," said John Kennedy, a KU associate professor of political science. "Most people are using a demographic explanation to say that abortion or infanticide are the reasons they don't show up in the census, and that they don't exist. But we find there is a political explanation."
The 2010 Chinese census found the sex ratio at birth was 118 males for every 100 females. Globally the average is about 105 males to females. In 2015, Chinese state media announced all couples would be allowed to have two children, signaling the end of the controversial 35-year-old policy, but scholars and policymakers are examining how the ban could have lasting social influence in China on everything from elderly care to political stability.
Japan suffers biggest natural population decline ever in 2018
Japan suffered its biggest natural population decline ever this year, government statistics show.
The fast-graying nation also posted a record-low birthrate, as the estimated number of babies born in 2018 dipped to 921,000 -- the lowest since records began in 1899 -- according to a report published Friday by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The number of newborns is estimated to have shrunk by 25,000 from 2017, and the figure remains under the 1 million mark for the third year running.
Deaths in 2018 also hit a postwar record high of 1.369 million, with a natural population decline of 448,000 -- the highest ever.
Beijing eyes two-child policy U-turn, but 'lonely generation' has moved on
For nearly 40 years, the Chinese government harshly restricted childbearing through the one-child rule in order to control population growth. That may soon change. Beijing appears to be on the cusp of abolishing all of its family planning rules — and is even encouraging young couples to have more children as a matter of patriotic urgency.
But attitudes toward parenthood have changed. Even though there is a two-child policy in place now, many Chinese still don't want to have more than one child — or any at all. "I think having one child is enough," said Chen Yiwen, a 25-year-old accountant and newlywed. "I won't be tempted to have more — even if the family planning policy is abolished." [...] "Besides, we already have two little babies — a poodle and a corgi," she said.
Related (JP): Japan Has Aged Out of its Economic Miracle
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Japan's Fertility Crisis is Creating Economic and Social Woes Never Seen Before
Japan Has 1.48 Jobs for Every Applicant
Why a Generation in Japan Is Facing a Lonely Death
Related (CN): China's 'Missing Girls' Theory Likely Far Overblown, Study Shows
China "Three-Child Policy" Hinted by Stamp Design?
Confronted By Aging Population China Allows Couples To Have Three Children
China will now allow married couples to have up to three children as the country attempts to halt a declining birthrate.
The policy is a dramatic change for a country which, less than a decayde ago, still performed forced abortions and sterilizations of women who had more than one child. The new three child limit raises the previous ceiling of two children. It is a recognition from the country's top leaders that China will need to undertake drastic measures to counter a rapidly aging society.
"Implementing the policy and its relevant supporting measures will help improve China's population structure, actively respond to the aging population, and preserve the country's human resource advantages," China's Politburo, a top Communist Party governing body, wrote in a statement published on China's state news agency Xinhua on Monday.
Only five years ago, China officially ended its One Child policy, a raft of restrictions that for more than three decades strictly limited couples to only one child. Those who had two or more children in violation of the policy were fined heavily. Pregnant women were sometimes effectively kidnapped by local family planning officials who cajoled, intimidated, or forced women to end the birth.
Also at BBC.
See also: China's new three-child policy sends baby and maternity stocks soaring
'Too much of a burden': Chinese couples react to three-child policy
Previously: China's 'Missing Girls' Theory Likely Far Overblown, Study Shows
China "Three-Child Policy" Hinted by Stamp Design?
Japan's Population Declines by 448,000; China May Reverse Childbirth Restrictions
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @03:49PM (19 children)
and the childless women in power are now importing 3rd world patriarchs to make up for the labor shortage.
It would be the height of racism for white people to encourage more babies amongst themselves.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @04:26PM (4 children)
Imagine that - modded down for stating an obvious truth. Americans hate babies so much, they'll stick a coat hanger in there to kill the baby before it ever has a chance to breathe. A multi-billion dollar industry centers on murdering the most helpless members of society.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @09:00PM (2 children)
Simple solution. Balance things out by putting more money in to killing adult humans. Let's start with you.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @09:02PM (1 child)
People are starting to catch on. Leftism isn't about making a better world, but rather about destroying what's been built.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:44PM
Well when there's so much hate, racism, and inequaliity created by righties to destroy, I'd have to admit it feels like a full time job to some.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @01:56AM
If you don't have a womb, better learn some since and get to working on a technique to grow yourself a complete female reproductive system. Probably too soon yet for an artificial womb update from our resident subatomic particle. If you already have a womb, then what are you bitching about? Get back in the kitchen. There's a very long line of incels that require your services. That thing ain't gonna impregnate itself with a white baby!
Don't forget to make each one a complimentary sammich.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @05:19PM (5 children)
For White people to encourage more babies amongst themselves and only themselves? Yes, it would in fact be racism.
To implement a policy that affects every member of the country equally instead? Not so much. Which is what China is doing and why you wouldn't call it racist. If their policy only allowed chinese people to have more babies but kept all minorities strictly locked at 1 child only - that would be called racist as well.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @05:48PM (2 children)
The OP never said "only".
Also, the OP never said a government should be involved.
Also, According to the 2010 census, 91.51% of the population was Han Chinese, and 8.49% were minorities, where "minorities" means "eyes shaped slightly narrower".
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:48PM (1 child)
"The OP never said "only"."
The problem is the people that specifically mention "white people" in statements like the op, they're almost always so obviously racist that you can infer their intent.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @02:57AM
I mean, your comment is patently racist: "Mention white people explicitly, and you're probably a racist."
GTFO!
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @07:10PM
So?
♫♫♫
I'm a racist; he's a racist; she's a racist; we're all racist!
Wouldn't you like to be a racist, too?
♫♫♫
(with apologies to Dr Pepper)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @02:13AM
How about for Jew people? Would it be a racism?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @06:04PM
Stupod statement of the year. So you are for universal healthcate?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @06:17PM (3 children)
I assume you won't object to others advocating race-mixing.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by Sulla on Saturday August 11 2018, @07:55PM (2 children)
How else do you expect people to react when they are told to stop having kids because it is bad for the world and then the government turns around and says it is necessary to import immigrants from a different culture instead because people didn't have enough kids. I don't give a shit if people want to have kids with someone who is a different color, I don't care if someone who is a different color wants to have a bunch of kids, what I care about is the pushing of how valuable kids are as long as they are any color but white. If the left's goal was to cause a backlash by uneducated whites they could not have done a better job than they did by villainizing whites (peoples of europe) having kids and holding up everyone else having kids as a virtue. It sure seemed like a consorted effort. Growing up in a liberal city it was drilled into me from a young age that it was morally reprehensible to have kids, as I got older the narrative shifted to blaming that generation for not having kids and ruining the tax base for paying for the boomers, and then that turned into the need to bring in immigrants because they will have kids. Welll fuck, why didn't they just tell us to have kids? Sure looked like they were going out of their way to make one group stop having kids so they could bring in a different group. In the past year there has been a huge uptick in "white" folks having kids and suddenly the narrative is again how greedy that generation is for only thinking of themselves, while at the same point pushing for bringing in more people because we need to pay for social security somehow.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @02:24AM
There's a reason for that. It's called neoliberalism, and the confusion is intentional. The intention, of course, is to drive down wages. Neoliberalism takes positions every now and then such as on the environment that happen to coincide with the right thing to do. In this case, the real reasons have nothing to do with the environment, and that is reflected by their broader policies.
The criticism of Al Gore's private jet, for example, comes from an important place of intuition. The working class does not have ownership over our labor, so how could we possibly do anything serious about tackling pollution like allocating our wealth for biodiesel independent of the corn industry? Instead, the neoliberals tell us not to have children, then they import immigrants (who may not have some of the high notions about labor organization somebody who grew up in the US would have) to drive down wages (while unions become corrupt and part of the effort to drive down wages), all while repeating NO MONEY for things like serious biodiesel research (algae or whatever else that's better than corn) and social programs and continuing to dump an amount that is creeping up towards a trillion dollars per year (just around $300 shy this year) on foreign wars of capitalist imperialism and oil.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @01:17PM
I think you mean 'concerted effort' not 'consorted effort'
Concerted = acting together
Consorting = fancy word for screwing
hmm. On second thoughts, consorted is probably accurate too. This society is well and truly consorted.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Saturday August 11 2018, @09:26PM (1 child)
As long as they colonize Africa, then it's a win-win situation. African genes get most of the savagery bred out and Africa becomes civilized.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:05PM
We knew EF would have something amazingly stupid to say about this.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:30PM
Hey. I was so busy thinking about how stupid SJWs are that I forgot about feminists for a while. Go fix me a sammich, woman.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @09:07PM (1 child)
Is that a bad thing? Wouldn't there be enough resources for everyone to get by without murdering anyone, torturing animals, taking over Africa and such.
Khazar jewish population can drop to zero by 2100 and that would be a good thing. Not sure about Chinese. They are a hardworking people.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:27PM
With only one billion Chinese, will there be enough of them left to staff all the Chinese restaurants in the world? A planet without dim sum and Three Treasure Pork is not worth living on.
(Score: 0, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:24PM
Now they can have one of each: a baby boy, a baby girl, and a baby transexual.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 11 2018, @10:31PM
Municipal and regional bureaucrats were substituting male mortalities with female ones to increase their unemployment ratings. e.g., When central government wanted to build a plant, they would look up the records and find the highest number of unemployed males. There were also weapon and medicine rations per able bodied males at certain times and places that contributed to this.
The best way to think about government in China is to think about how your local school works. The teachers and principle won't report bullying since it will make them look bad, hurt their promotions and funding. Similarly, local government are constantly falsifying reports of all kinds to get more funding. So, if crime rates hurt something, they'll pressure the judges and law enforcement not to make too many arrests leading to the crime sprees that inspired all those Kung Fu films. And if the government opens tech plants in high math and English literacy areas, you can bet your ass a local party member will leak the answers to the state exams.
It's why that whole gamified social rating program is a joke. Back when Xi Jinping extended his term indefinitely, you had party members calling factories and telling them to instruct workers to repost as well in the social media to poison the data sets and prevent their rebellious teens from screwing up their records (and the region's future funding).
I would like to say the west is better off in this. But the deterioration of the US towards a police state over local law enforcement getting financially incentivized to make more arrest and buy more guns isn't exactly a huge win for capitalism and democracy either...
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 12 2018, @04:35AM
As a former stamp collector, it's interesting to me to see which countries these days still try to use their stamp issuing program as part of their governmental propaganda system. Most countries in the West, as well as in the third world, use it as pretty labels to pry money out of the declining number of stamp collectors in the world; though they're still used to send the mail, they're not used much to send a message.
Back when I still collected, one of the areas I got into was collecting the stamps issued by the various countries involved in fighting WWII. It was startling how many stamps the Axis countries put out, as compared to the Allies. The Axis used their stamps to get their governments' world view out not just to their citizens, but to mail recipients around the world, particularly Germany (and no, it wasn't all just Hitler stamps). The Allies by comparison put out very few war-related stamps. Apparently they were concentrating on winning the war, not on propagandizing about it.
It would be interesting to know how much mail volume there is in China, where stamp images can still be used to communicate what the government considers to be important. Ah well, forgive my rambling.