First Population Decline in 60 Years
India Also Takes the Top Population Spot
As the Chinese government struggles with the low birthrate issue, President Xi Jinping mentioned "women returning to the home" as a solution. He emphasized that women should focus on their roles as mothers rather than as working women.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 4th, President Xi stated at the National Women's Congress held in Beijing from the 23rd to the 30th of last month, "We must actively foster a new culture related to marriage and child-rearing."
According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 4th, President Xi Jinping stated at the National Women's Congress held in Beijing from the 23rd to the 30th of last month, "We must actively foster a new culture related to marriage and child-rearing." [Photo by Xinhua News Agency Yonhap News]
President Xi added, "It is the government's role to influence young people's views on love, marriage, childbirth, and family."
The NYT reported that this meeting focused on promoting the "role of Chinese women" as designed by President Xi. It emphasized that women should aim for marriage and childbirth rather than fulfilling social roles in the workplace.
While past meetings equally valued roles in both the workplace and the home, this year's meeting made no mention of the workplace. The background to President Xi's remarks lies in China's recent low birthrate problem.
China's Total Fertility Rate Falls to 1.09
In the past, China implemented population control policies due to a high population growth rate, but the total fertility rate, which was 2.51 in 1990, dropped to 1.09 as of last year. [Photo by Kim Dahee]
As the number of marriages decreased, the birthrate also declined, and by the end of last year, China's population was recorded at 1.4175 billion.
In the past, China had a high population growth rate to the extent of implementing birth control policies, but the total fertility rate, which was 2.51 in 1990, dropped to 1.09 as of last year. Additionally, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics in January, the population declined for the first time in 60 years, and China's population is rapidly aging.
As a result, the Chinese government has been supporting incentives such as cash payments and tax benefits to families having children, but concrete results have been poor. China has already lost its position as the world's most populous country to India.
The NYT stated, "Facing a population crisis, slowing economic growth, and the rise of feminism, the Chinese government has decided to push women back into the home."
The NYT further added that this statement was "President Xi ordering them to raise children and care for elderly parents for the sake of 'China's modernization.'"
The trend of avoiding marriage and childbirth in China is expected to accelerate as the Chinese economy enters a recession phase and youth unemployment reaches record highs.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
