China faces severe aging population problem

China faces severe aging population problem
Mar 7, 2008 01:05
BBQQ Points: Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: offline	Aging population has become a severe problem for China. It is estimated that the quantity of people over 60 years old will have taken up 1/5 of its total population by 2030. However, China's welfare and health systems are weak and can't support so many old people. Here is a report from Financial Times. CHINESE OFFICIALS CLASH ON BIRTH CONTROL By Mure Dickie in Beijing Friday, March 07, 2008 Asenior Chinese official has declared there can be “no wavering” on the policy of limiting the number of children couples can have – days after a colleague said the curbs might be relaxed.The sharply conflicting statements from National Population and Family Planning Commission leaders have thrown a spotlight on the political and social sensitivities surrounding birth controls in the world's most populous nation. “Birth planning is a basic national policy that China has stuck to for a long time. There can no wavering, only stability,” Zhang Weiqing, population control commission minister, was reported yesterday as saying. Mr Zhang's remarks came after one of his vice-ministers, Zhao Baige, said Beijing was considering gradually raising the limits. Ms Zhao said: “This has become a big issue among decision-makers.” Analysts say the contradictory comments reflect equally conflicting pressures on population planners. While the demographic, social and economic implications of a rapidly ageing population argue for easing controls, officials fear that sending potential parents the wrong signal could prompt a destabilising baby boom. Indeed, Mr Zhang gave warning that an estimated 100m Chinese were in their procreational peak period, meaning any policy softening could have dramatic consequences. Yet, for all his stress on stability, it is clear that Beijing is considering new approaches to what has been a cornerstone of social policy since the 1970s. “In fact, the government has for a long time been looking into where to go from here,” said Li Jianmin, a population expert at Nankai University. Among Beijing's most pressing concerns is a looming doubling of the proportion of people over 60 to about one in five by 2030. China's weak welfare and health systems are ill-equipped to serve an ever-larger army of elderly that will put strains on a national pension fund already facing a shortfall estimated at $350bn (€228bn, £174bn).

Mar 7, 2008 01:05

BBQQ
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Join Date: Feb 7, 2007
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Aging population has become a severe problem for China. It is estimated that the quantity of people over 60 years old will have taken up 1/5 of its total population by 2030. However, China's welfare and health systems are weak and can't support so many old people.

Here is a report from Financial Times.

CHINESE OFFICIALS CLASH ON BIRTH CONTROL

By Mure Dickie in Beijing
Friday, March 07, 2008

Asenior Chinese official has declared there can be “no wavering” on the policy of limiting the number of children couples can have – days after a colleague said the curbs might be relaxed.The sharply conflicting statements from National Population and Family Planning Commission leaders have thrown a spotlight on the political and social sensitivities surrounding birth controls in the world's most populous nation. “Birth planning is a basic national policy that China has stuck to for a long time. There can no wavering, only stability,” Zhang Weiqing, population control commission minister, was reported yesterday as saying.

Mr Zhang's remarks came after one of his vice-ministers, Zhao Baige, said Beijing was considering gradually raising the limits. Ms Zhao said: “This has become a big issue among decision-makers.”

Analysts say the contradictory comments reflect equally conflicting pressures on population planners.

While the demographic, social and economic implications of a rapidly ageing population argue for easing controls, officials fear that sending potential parents the wrong signal could prompt a destabilising baby boom.

Indeed, Mr Zhang gave warning that an estimated 100m Chinese were in their procreational peak period, meaning any policy softening could have dramatic consequences.

Yet, for all his stress on stability, it is clear that Beijing is considering new approaches to what has been a cornerstone of social policy since the 1970s.

“In fact, the government has for a long time been looking into where to go from here,” said Li Jianmin, a population expert at Nankai University.

Among Beijing's most pressing concerns is a looming doubling of the proportion of people over 60 to about one in five by 2030.

China's weak welfare and health systems are ill-equipped to serve an ever-larger army of elderly that will put strains on a national pension fund already facing a shortfall estimated at $350bn (€228bn, £174bn).

Mar 7, 2008 05:17	#1
WESTNORWOODGAS Points: Join Date: Jun 22, 2007 Status: Offline	We have the same problem here in the UK, it is blamed on the amount of babies born in the 1950's and 60's ( me included ) also people are living longer due to healthier life styles etc. Alan

Mar 7, 2008 10:50

GRIZ326
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Join Date: Jun 12, 2006
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We have a similar problem, but nothing near the scale of China's aging problem.

China's problem was made much worse than it would have naturally been because Mao encouraged the people to make China strong with children; this was complicated later by the one child policy.

China has the huge aging population encouraged by Mao looking for support from the much smaller younger population created by the one child policy.

The good news for China is that this problem comes at a time of plenty; all China needs to do is to use its great wealth to help the aging population. It would be a sort of surrogate for 孝, filial piety.

Mar 9, 2008 20:26	#3
BBQQ Points: Join Date: Feb 7, 2007 Status: Offline	Griz, actually a demologist once advised that China should control its population. However, the policy makers didn't accept his advice. Luckily, China adopted one child policy later. Otherwise, the problem is more severe. Since China has a large amount of aging population, some people suggest that we should abanish one child policy to have more young guys. Do you think it is a good idea?

Mar 9, 2008 21:11

SHESGOTTOBE
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Join Date: Nov 23, 2007
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I think the one-child policy was a good idea to curb the population. The bad thing about it was that many female fetuses were aborted because most couples prefer to have sons. The result: Not only China has an aging population problem, it also has gender imbalance problem. People don’t live forever so the problem will go away in a few years. With China’s wealth, it won’t have any problem supporting the aged. The problem that can be solved with money is the easiest problem to solve.

Mar 10, 2008 04:14

BBQQ
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SHE, I agree with you. The one child policy did help curb the population. Do you know why Chinese parents prefer sons than daughters? In their traditional views, your daughter will leave you one day because she will get married. Sons are different. They will support you till death. I wonder if you have heard of “养儿防老", a Chinese saying. In English, it refers to "Raising sons to provide against old age". It reflects this kind of thought vividly. And the direct result is the emergence of gender problem. More boys won't have their wives in the future.

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