China May Lower Fines for Poor Who Violate One-Child-Only Policy – Maureen Fan

From the Washington Post:

Fines imposed on Chinese who violate the country’s one-child-only policy may be reduced for the poor, a top family planning official said Tuesday, as authorities stressed a broader approach to population management.

The announcement came a day after state media reported that many Chinese believe it is unfair that the wealthy can “buy” a second child by simply paying fines for breaking the one-child-only rule for most urban couples…

The announcement appeared to be part of a broader attempt by officials to put a more human face on China’s much-maligned family planning policies. As the most populous country on Earth — China has 1.3 billion people — the country is struggling with an aging population, a growing rich-poor gap, unemployment pressures and continued reports of family planning abuses, including forced abortions and sterilizations.
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Related AP report: “China Sticking to One-Child Policy” says, “China will not loosen its one-child policy, despite a top family planning official’s acknowledgment Tuesday that it was partly to blame for a worsening problem of too many boy babies and not enough girls in the world’s most populous nation.”

- Also Beijing Review magazine’s Family Planning Policy Not to Blame for Gender Imbalance