It’s time for us to chew the cud of what we’ve carried into execution in the past years, the Family Planning and One-Child policy in particular.

Although we have been implementing the Family Planning and One-Child policy for 28 years, the population still keeps growing. China's current 1.3 billion population would grow by 200 million by 2033.

And the number of 60-year-olds and over will jump from the current 143 million to 430 million by 2040, 30% of the total population. A major problem led by the one-child policy is that many single children would have to face the prospect of supporting two parents and four grandparents into their old age.

Another problem is that there will be 30 million more men of marriageable age than women by 2020, making it difficult for them to find wives. The gender imbalance could lead to social instability.

What’s the reason?   A traditional preference for boys, in a country with a one-child policy, is the root of the problem. Abortions on female foetuses are believed to be widespread as couples, particularly in rural areas, hope for a son who will look after them in their old age.

It found that around 118 boys were born to every 100 girls in 2005, as had jumped from 110 to 100 recorded in 2000. In some areas of southern China, such as Guangdong and Hainan, the figure was 130 boys to 100 girls in 2005.

How to solve it? We Chinese need to improve our social security and retirement system, as well as the family planning policies, education and health services.

Do hope the bright prospect is waiting for us in the future.

－－北欧海盗