An official from Department of Community Family Planning of the National Health and Family Planning Commission?recently answered questions about the universal two-child policy.

Question: Some local chapters of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) have said that pregnancies with a second child, even if they are not within the range of the current stipulations, will not be punished before amendments to “the Population and Family Planning Law” and its statutes and regulations come into force. What comments do you have ?

Answer: The universal two-child policy shall be implemented in accordance with the law. According to the guidelines set out at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress shall make amendments to “the Population and Family Planning Law” and its complementary statutes and regulations in due course. The universal two-child policy will be implemented only after the revised laws come into force. Before that, the local affiliates must enforce the current laws on population and family planning to maintain a good order of fertility and should not act willfully. In the meantime, transition of administration measures on family planning should be performed according to the guidelines of the Fifth Plenary Session and stipulations of “the Legislative Law”, for the protection of the legal rights and interest of citizens.

Question: Why is the universal two-child policy to be carried out?

Answer: Since the new century, China’s demographics have undergone drastic changes. Population growth has slowed while the demographic structure has presented noticeable problems, with the working population on the decline and the aging sector bulging, together with a high sex ratio at birth and enormous pressure on a balanced development of population. Early in 1980, the CPC Central Committee pointed out in an “Open Letter to All CPC and CYLC Members on Controlling Population Growth” that different population policies could be adopted when the intense problem of population growth is eased after 30 years.

Considering the new situation and changes in population growth, the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee ruled that a couple may have two children if one spouse is an only child, along with the adjustments and improvements of the family planning policy. It is a strategic decision to promote long-term and balanced population development , in the direction of adjusting and improving the family planning policy.

Based on the solid implementation of the single two-child policy, the Fifth Plenary Session assessed the current scenarios and made scientific decisions to promote balanced development of the population by upholding the basic national policy of family planning, improving the demographic structure by implementing the universal two-child policy in view of the aging reality. Consistent with China’s conditions and public opinions, the decisions are the right choice and appropriate response to the promise made three decades ago.