China's Population Problem
The Chinese government has taken the enforcement of family planning and birthrate laws
to an extreme by violating the civil rights of its citizens, which has had bad effects on the
morale of its people (Whyte 161). China's population has grown to such an enormous
size that it has become a problem to both the people and government. China, the most
populous country in the world, has an estimated population of about one thousand-one
hundred-thirty three point six million (Hsu 1). Ninety-four percent of the population
thrives in the eastern half of China, which composes about forty-three percent of China's
total area (Hsu 1). The eastern half of China contains its most populous cities like
Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. However these cities have a low fertility rate due to
recent bandwagons of birth control. The average density in the eastern half of China
averages around two-hundred and thirty-six people per square kilometer, whereas the
density in the west half averages around ten point six people per square kilometer (Hsu
1). Current enforcement of Chinese laws prevents migration between provinces without
proper authorization, as the citizens in the west half of China have a desire to live in a
more urban life where jobs can be found easier, and the citizens in the more populous
eastern half have a stronger desire to live in the more rural western China (Hsu 4).
The Chinese have always had a large population (Hsu 1). Even in ancient times where
the population would never fall below sixty million (Hsu 1). Later, in the eighteenth
century the population rose exceedingly and China became the strongest and most
economically wealthy (Hsu 1). By the time the Qing Dynasty ruled, the fertile people of
China had reached a population of three-hundred million (Hsu 1). The birthrate in China
did decline in the nineteen-fifties due to campaigning by the government on birth control
(Hsu 1). However, after the population decreased the government turned their attention
to other matters while the population slowly crept up again. Once again in the nineteenseventies the population became an issue and it received the governments full attention.
In order that the government might resolve this problem, the 'Wan Xi Shao' policy, or the
'marry later, give longer spacing between children, and have fewer children' policy began
to be enforced (Hsu 2). This policy proved to have some effect but it did not stop the
fertile people of China, and the population has steadily risen to the current population
(Hsu 2).
The recent laws imposed on the people of China include the 'One child per family
law'(Hsu 2). This law began to be enforced in nineteen-seventy-nine, so that the
government might achieve its goal of reducing the rate of natural increase to five per
thousand by nineteen-eighty-five, and to zero by the year two-thousand(Hsu 2). The
immense population had become straining on the economy and resources (Linden 1).
Migration to less populous areas of China became restricted so that the government might
be able to control the population more effectively and easily (Hsu 4). Currently, the 'one
child per family' law still exist, but it has become more flexible, in that it allows a second
child but with a longer interval between the first (Hsu 2). Through the health service
programs across China, birth control pills, inter uterine devices, condoms, diaphragms ,
foams, and jellies had been distributed in a matter of time (C.Q.W.R. 1). The
government made life easier for those who chose to obey this law by offering incentives
such as: paid maternity leave, time off for breast feeding, free child care, free
contraceptives, and paid time off for abortions and sterilization (Ehrlich 205). Other
rewards for obeying this law and not exceeding the limit included better housing and
educational opportunities for their children (Ehrlich 205). Doctors 'volunteered' their
services to sterilize couples who had finished childbearing, and doctors also provided free
abortions at local clinics and hospitals (Ehrlich 205). However the government has
encountered resistance in rural areas and this has led to many abuses, and one of the
reasons why the government has performed many coerced abortions and sterilizations
(C.Q.W.R. 1).
The Chinese government has committed brutal and unjustified acts against offenders of
the 'one child' policy, and in general the enforcement of these laws has taken the
governments undivided attention (Ehrlich 205). Resistance by traditional citizens who
mainly live in less populous areas, have received involuntary abortions and sterilizations.
China has gone to great lengths to control population, and it has involved reprogramming
citizens to have smaller families and to actively use family planning (Ehrlich 205).
Family planning and policies limiting the number of children in families has received
attention from many countries and issues like this requires the governments full attention
and prevents them from focusing on more important affairs like scientific advancements
and resolving poverty and homelessness (Linden 2). China's family planning policies and
children limiting laws can be considered as reasonable and in the interest of the people of
China, but because the government takes the enforcement of these laws to such an
extreme shows that they have little consideration for the Chinese citizens. Means of
controlling population that infringe upon a human beings civil rights have no place
among laws and should merely be taken as a suggestion by the Chinese citizens, and in
no way forced upon them.
If China's population received no attention the environment and ecosystem would not be
able to with stand the force of such an impact of an immense population (Linden 1).
Numerous species of animals would be put in danger due to the destruction of their
homes for housing needs, and some even driven to the verge of extinction (Linden 1).
Once lush green forests and jungles teaming with life would be swarming with microbes,
cockroaches, weeds, and rats, all of which would thrive off of such conditions (Linden 1).
The best and most reasonable way to prevent the destruction of the environment and the
overuse natural resources involves the reduction of propagation by nearly half (Linden
1).
The Earth has encountered many problems over the years with the environment and the
ecosystem, many of which relate proportionally to population size. The consideration of
family planning policies and laws remains feasible to most governments, however
inappropriate the people targeted might deem them. A governments position on a subject
has not always proven to have justice in the favor of its people, but in the long run
proves beneficial most of the time. History has shown that previous attempts to control
population have failed and recent laws enforced appear to be taken to extremes by the
government. However primitive their ways of accomplishing this have shown to be, it
must not be overlooked that it has proved effective in reducing China's immense
population.
Works Cited
1. 'Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report' (C. Q. W. R.), June 5, 1993.
2. Ehrlich, Paul R. The population explosion, Simon and Schauster, New
York, 1990.
3. Hsu, Mei-Ling, 'Population of China: Large is not beautiful' Focus Spring 1992:
vol. 42, no.1.
4. Linden, Eugene. 'Too Many People' Times fall 1992: vol. 140, issue 27, p. 64.
5. Whyte, Martin King, Urban Life in Contemporary China, The University of
Chicago press, Chicago, 1984.
Keywords:
china population problem chinese government taken enforcement family planning
birthrate laws extreme violating civil rights citizens which effects morale people whyte
china population grown such enormous size that become problem both people
government china most populous country world estimated population about thousand
hundred thirty three point million ninety four percent thrives eastern half which composes
about forty three percent total area eastern half contains most populous cities like beijing
shanghai tianjin however these cities have fertility rate recent bandwagons birth control
average density eastern half averages around hundred thirty people square kilometer
whereas density west averages around point square kilometer current enforcement
chinese laws prevents migration between provinces without proper authorization citizens
west have desire live more urban life where jobs found easier citizens more populous
have stronger desire live more rural western chinese always large even ancient times
where would never fall below sixty million later eighteenth century rose exceedingly
became strongest most economically wealthy time qing dynasty ruled fertile reached
three hundred million birthrate decline nineteen fifties campaigning government birth
control however after decreased turned their attention other matters while slowly crept
again once again nineteen seventies became issue received governments full attention
order that might resolve this problem shao policy marry later give longer spacing
between children fewer children policy began enforced this policy proved some effect
stop fertile steadily risen current recent laws imposed include child family this began
enforced nineteen seventy nine that might achieve goal reducing rate natural increase five
thousand eighty five zero year thousand immense become straining economy resources
linden migration less areas became restricted might able control effectively easily
currently child family still exist become flexible allows second child with longer interval
between first through health service programs across birth pills inter uterine devices
condoms diaphragms foams jellies been distributed matter time made life easier those
chose obey offering incentives such paid maternity leave time breast feeding free care
free contraceptives paid abortions sterilization ehrlich other rewards obeying exceeding
limit included better housing educational opportunities their children ehrlich doctors
volunteered their services sterilize couples finished childbearing doctors also provided
free abortions local clinics hospitals ehrlich however encountered resistance rural areas
many abuses reasons performed many coerced abortions sterilizations committed brutal
unjustified acts against offenders general enforcement these taken governments
undivided attention resistance traditional mainly live less areas received involuntary
sterilizations gone great lengths involved reprogramming smaller families actively
planning planning policies limiting number families received from many countries issues
like requires governments full prevents them from focusing important affairs like
scientific advancements resolving poverty homelessness linden policies limiting
considered reasonable interest because takes these such extreme shows they little
consideration means controlling infringe upon human beings civil rights place among
should merely taken suggestion forced upon them environment ecosystem would able
with stand force impact immense linden numerous species animals would danger
destruction homes housing needs some even driven verge extinction once lush green
forests jungles teaming with life swarming microbes cockroaches weeds rats which thrive
conditions best reasonable prevent destruction environment overuse natural resources
involves reduction propagation nearly earth encountered problems over years
environment ecosystem relate proportionally size consideration policies remains feasible
inappropriate targeted deem them position subject always proven justice favor long
proves beneficial history shown previous attempts failed recent enforced appear extremes
primitive ways accomplishing shown must overlooked proved effective reducing
immense works cited congressional quarterly weekly report june paul explosion simon
schauster york ling large beautiful focus spring eugene times fall issue whyte martin king
urban contemporary university chicago press chicago
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