Chinese officials are discussing reversing limitations on the number of children per family, a policy that has been enforced since 1979, reports the Times Online.
China’s political leadership is considering ending the country’s hated “one-child” policy because it is damaging the economy and creating a demographic timebomb, a senior minister admitted today.
Zhao Baige, Vice Minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, revealed that there is concern at the highest levels that the policy is already tearing apart the fabric of society.
However, Zhao does not foresee the old policy being abandoned completely.
Ms Zhao indicated that there are no plans do away with family-planning policies altogether, as in the short term China’s 1.3 billion population is still growing.
State media said in December that numbers would reach 1.5 billion people by 2033, with birth rates set to soar over the next five years.
A year ago, the Washington Post reported that China had no intention of loosening its family-planning restrictions.
