Three-child policy: China's planners cut chives

China's leadership has never changed its policy this quickly. Last Friday, the People's Congress allowed China's women to give birth to three children. Fears of a population decline, rapid aging and a shortage of young workers tipped the scales in favor of the radical departure from its former one-child society. But China's censors are now hardly able to suppress outrage among the population: If China now faces a low birthrate, why was there a need for cruel coercion in the past?

Last updated: 24. July 2025