China's One-Child Policy Architect Dies Amid Outrage Over Abandoned Policy

The passing of Peng Peiyun, a former head of China's Family Planning Commission, has sparked a mix of tributes and criticism on social media. State media praised Peng as an 'outstanding leader' for her work on women and children, but many took to China's popular micro-blog Weibo to express outrage over the one-child policy she helped implement from 1980 to 2015. The policy, which was designed to control population growth, led to forced abortions and sterilizations. Critics argue that the policy's legacy is now evident in China's rapidly aging population, which has declined for three consecutive years. After falling behind India's population in 2023, China's population dropped to 1.39 billion last year, and experts warn that the trend will continue. As population czar, Peng focused her commission's work on rural areas, where large families were once seen as a means of ensuring old-age security and carrying on family names. However, this led to a preference for male children, resulting in unwanted infant girls and aborted female fetuses. In a shift from her earlier stance, Peng publicly advocated for easing the one-child policy in the 2010s. Today, Beijing is attempting to boost its flagging birth rate with childcare subsidies, longer maternity leave, and tax benefits. Nevertheless, the shrinking and aging population poses significant concerns for China's economic future, as the number of workers declines and costs rise for elderly care and retirement benefits.