The passing of Peng Peiyun, former head of China’s Family Planning Commission from 1988 to 1998, has drawn sharp criticism on social media rather than tributes.
State media described her as an outstanding leader in work related to women and children.
Peng died in Beijing on Sunday, just short of her 96th birthday.
Social Media Backlash
Online reactions focused on the controversial one-child policy instead of mourning.
“Those children who were lost, naked, are waiting for you over there” in the afterlife, one Weibo user posted.
Another commented that shortening the policy by 10 years might have prevented the current population decline.
Legacy of the Policy
The one-child mandate, enforced from 1980 to 2015, led local officials to force abortions and sterilisations on women.
It was introduced amid fears of uncontrolled population growth.
China’s population, once the world’s largest, slowed and fell for the third straight year last year to 1.39 billion after surpassing by India in 2023.
Rural Focus and Gender Issues
As commission head, Peng directed efforts mainly toward rural areas.
Large families were traditionally valued there for old-age support, with a preference for sons to continue family lines.
This contributed to abandoned infant girls and sex-selective abortions.
Shift in Views and Current Efforts
“Those children, if they were born, would be almost 40 years old, in the prime of their lives,” one Weibo post noted.
By the 2010s, Peng had changed her stance, advocating for relaxing the policy.
Beijing now offers childcare subsidies, extended maternity leave, and tax incentives to encourage higher birth rates.
Demographic Challenges Ahead
The ageing and shrinking population raises concerns for China’s economy.
A declining workforce and rising elderly care costs could strain budgets, especially for debt-burdened local governments.
Experts predict the downward trend will worsen in the years ahead.
About The Author
