That harsh practice has become less common since China relaxed its one-child policy in 2015. So when news emerged this week that the government wants to reduce abortions for “non-medical reasons,” the backlash was swift and furious.
The measure on abortion was part of a larger section about reproductive health that included provisions such as increasing health education and access to contraception. Beyond that brief sentence, however, no other details — such as how the abortion restriction would be implemented or what criteria women would need to meet — were provided.
But the fact it was mentioned at all in the sweeping 10-year plan is concerning — and could be part of the government’s campaign to increase the birth rate as it faces a growing demographic crisis, said Leta Hong Fincher, author of “Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China.”
“This, of course, is not a red alert nationwide ban on abortion, which would create an enormous uproar,” she said. “But, in fact, it’s more obvious than I had anticipated because it’s coming in the form of this document issued by the State Council, a nationwide policy document.”
Despite its brevity, the line is “a statement of central government policy, and it sends a signal to all of those local level (Communist Party) cadres that this is a priority of the central government,” she added.
But over the past decade, China changed tack completely as it began to reckon with the consequences of its one-child policy — a rapidly aging population and shrinking workforce that threatened the country’s economic growth.
So far, their efforts have been met with a lukewarm response at best. Many women, who now enjoy greater educational and career opportunities than in the past, are reluctant to expand their families — especially with other obstacles like a high cost of living and entrenched gender norms that relegate childcare to mothers.
“The entire history of population planning in China … has been incredibly abusive and coercive,” said Hong Fincher. “So I think there is a lot of reason to be very concerned about this complete 180-degree turn in emphasis coming from the central government, saying that now, China needs to reduce the number of non-medical abortions.”
Some experts, however, caution it’s too soon to say what the impact will be — especially since it’s not the first time the government has signaled such intentions. The last 10-year plan for women’s development, published in 2011, also aimed to “reduce the rate of abortion” and of unwanted pregnancy in general by improving sexual education and access to contraception.
“This is not a new policy,” said Feng Yuan, a feminist scholar and activist. “Currently we don’t see any reason for stricter (implementation).”
Besides, she added, several other countries also restrict terminations of pregnancies beyond 14 weeks for health and safety concerns. The reason the policy is prompting debate now is “because the attention and focus on the issue has changed, where people are concerned about limits on their rights to control their bodies,” she said.
The government will also probably tread lightly on the issue, said Hong Fincher. Authorities are aware this is a delicate, controversial topic that could prompt public backlash, especially with growing awareness among women of their rights and bodily agency.
“There’s this rhetoric that the Communist Party was founded on the basis of gender equality … it’s literally enshrined in the Constitution,” said Hong Fincher.
“But the fact is, just looking at the evidence of quite a few years already … the government’s movement has been in opposition to furthering women’s rights, in opposition to gender equality. I think that the direction is clear now.”
Missing citizen journalist resurfaces
But Chen went missing after two weeks of critical reporting, and was later revealed to have been forced into quarantine by authorities, according to his friends and family.
“Long time no see! In the past year and 8 months, I’ve been through a lot — some of which I can talk about, and some I can’t. I believe you all understand,” he wrote.
“During the darkest moment of my life, it was boxing that saved me. Boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu not only gave me a healthy body, but also helped set me free from depression.”
CNN has reached out to Chen for comment.
“I haven’t done any videos for a long time. Now I feel nervous facing the camera,” he said, sitting next to Xu.
Chen tiptoed around what exactly happened to him, but he did allude to the toll it had taken on his physical and mental health.
“When I first regained freedom, my health condition was very bad — I would feel exhausted after walking for one or two kilometers,” he said, adding that he also had depression.
Chen said going forward, he wanted to devote himself to the promotion of boxing. “The past will eventually pass. And the good days will eventually arrive. Let’s add oil together,” he said.
Two other citizen journalists, Fang Bin and Li Zehua, still haven’t been heard from since they went missing in Wuhan last year.
National celebration
The People’s Liberation Army perform a flag-raising ceremony at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to mark the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. October 1 is also the start of the week-long National Day holiday, one of the busiest times for travel in China.
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