{"id":15510,"date":"2025-02-06T10:05:24","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T10:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=15510"},"modified":"2025-02-06T10:17:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T10:17:31","slug":"chinas-reproductive-rights-calls-for-a-childbirth-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/chinas-reproductive-rights-calls-for-a-childbirth-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"China&#8217;s Reproductive Rights: Calls for a Childbirth Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#FFF\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-15517\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">China&#8217;s Reproductive Rights: Calls for a Childbirth Culture<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-06T10:05:24+00:00\">6 February 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">Our ongoing series returns to our <em>Welcome to Gilead<\/em> campaign, examining restrictions on China\u2019s reproductive rights and global trends in reproductive freedom. This update explores recent pronatalist measures in China and their impact on women\u2019s autonomy, following our <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/resources\/welcome-to-gilead-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021 Gilead report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>No More Dragon Babies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>China\u2019s reproductive rights are facing increasing government intervention. Last year, China saw a rise in births for the first time since 2017, reaching 9.54 million, up from 9.02 million the previous year. Many experts put this down to it being the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac calendar, where it\u2019s believed that children born in that year will be destined for great success and fortune.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, despite a slight uptick in births last year, China\u2019s population has continued to decline. Its population has dropped to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-asia-china-68002803\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1.409 billion \u2013 a 2.08 million decrease<\/a> from 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1688\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec.png\" alt=\"Most populous countries 2024\" class=\"wp-image-13954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec.png 1688w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec-1024x728.png 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec-768x546.png 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MOST-POPULOUS-COUNTRIES-rec-1536x1092.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1688px) 100vw, 1688px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>China\u2019s population decline is due to a low birth rate, below the replacement rate of 2.1 which is required for a population to maintain a constant size.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is part of a broader demographic transition that mirrors other high-income countries. As China has rapidly deindustrialised, its workforce has moved into the service sector. The population has become more educated and skilled, with more women in the workforce, meaning people start families later and have fewer children.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this population decline has sparked concern among government officials who fear a future economic downturn and have begun to pressure younger generations, women particularly, into having more children.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top Down Pronatalist Pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/ttps\/\/ecosoc.un.org\/en\/ngo\/submit-quadrennial-report#5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speech in 2023 to the All-China Women\u2019s Federation<\/a>, President Xi Jinping called for the organisation to \u201cactively cultivate a new marriage and childbirth culture, strengthen guidance of young people\u2019s views on marriage, parenthood and family, as well as promote policies to support childbirth\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"China on a globe\" class=\"wp-image-15517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/christian-lue-2Juj2cXWB7U-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Chinese government has since introduced a range of policies to tackle the low birth rate including tax benefits, cheaper housing, and cash incentives to encourage people to have more children.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, central Chinese Communist Party authorities set out a comprehensive nationwide pro-natalist policy framework. Local authorities have since followed suit with the launch of pilot projects aimed at building a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfr.org\/blog\/china-steadily-pivots-towards-promoting-marriage-and-childbirth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cmarriage and childbearing culture for a new era\u201d<\/a> in dozens of Chinese cities led by the China Family Planning Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">At a local level<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Jingzhou, in Hubei province, is one of the latest cities to offer cash subsidies to families with multiple children, providing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/economy\/china-economy\/article\/3282963\/chinas-pro-birth-policies-not-yet-enough-counter-demographic-crisis-expert-warns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">6,000 yuan for a second child and 12,000 yuan for a third<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has also led to more invasive practices such as reports on social media of local officials <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/16\/business\/china-population-births-deaths.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">knocking on doors and cold-calling women\u202f<\/a>to inquire about their menstrual cycles and ask when newlywed couples plan to have children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Beijing government has also called on local officials to put in place early-warning systems to monitor changes in population at the village and town levels around the country. Not since the peak enforcement of the one-child policy has the central Chinese government paid such close attention to the reproductive lives of its citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Beijing, China, at night\" class=\"wp-image-15516\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/zhang-kaiyv-9v_Nork6P1w-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Beijing at night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>However, despite these policy incentives and pressures, China\u2019s birth rate has remained consistently low.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The YuWa Population Research Institute report that China is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/chinas-child-rearing-costs-far-outstrip-us-japan-research-2022-02-23\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most expensive places to raise a child<\/a> and that economic concerns have put people off wanting to have more children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Others point to the legacy of state violence of China\u2019s one child policy and how this has led to a <a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/18\/china\/china-one-child-policy-hangover-intl-hnk\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">generation of women sceptical of Beijing\u2019s new pro-birth agenda.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rollback on Abortion Acces<\/strong>s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst positive incentives have so far done little to reverse the trend of China\u2019s consistently low birth rate, other more coercive measures have been introduced including further restrictions on women\u2019s reproductive rights and access to abortions:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2018, Jiangxi province in eastern China introduced a policy that anyone seeking to terminate a pregnancy after 14 weeks of gestation must prove that the procedure is medically necessary and obtain signatures from three doctors.\u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In August 2022, the National Health Commission\u2019s (NHC) new\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/cast.asiapacific.ca\/map\/event\/988\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">birth-encouraging plan<\/a>\u202fincluded a directive to \u201creduce abortions that are not medically necessary.\u201d \u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In November 2022, China\u2019s National Medical Products Administration <a href=\"https:\/\/cast.asiapacific.ca\/map\/event\/1648\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">banned<\/a>\u202fonline sales of two abortion pills.\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In February 2023, a court\u202fin Chengdu city ruled\u202fthat termination of pregnancy without spousal consent or \u201clegitimate reasons\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/static.cdsb.com\/micropub\/Articles\/202302\/208b8ceb48836607f10f50cf91b2f46e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">constitutes a violation of men\u2019s right to reproduction.<\/a> The case eroded existing precedents and restricted the grounds on which many women could access abortion, and in effect denied the autonomy of married women to make decisions about their own medical procedures. \u202f&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Silver Lining<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whilst there has been a trend towards restricting access to abortion in China in recent years, this also comes at a time of fierce resistance as more Chinese women are educated and in work than ever before, bringing about a rise in feminist discourse in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>However, with the extraordinary rise in feminist consciousness over the past 20 years, any attempts at introducing explicit abortion bans in China will likely see enormous public pushback. Simply citing economic need and evoking nationalism are unlikely to resonate with the country\u2019s increasingly independent and politically conscious women<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.asiapacific.ca\/publication\/china-fight-reproductive-rights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Irene Zhang: Junior Research Scholar, APF Canada<\/a>&nbsp;<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As witnessed recently in America, it\u2019s important to stay alert to policies that adopt a pronatalist agenda especially when they start to gradually erode women\u2019s rights as this can lead to an irreversible \u2018tipping point\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2022\/06\/a-terrible-human-cost-roe-v-wade-overturned\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">as seen with the overturn of Roe v Wade<\/a>. Population Matters will continue to monitor activities in China on our <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/gilead-watch-protect-womens-rights-from-pronatal-politicians\/\">Gilead Watch page<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fchinas-reproductive-rights-calls-for-a-childbirth-culture%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fchinas-reproductive-rights-calls-for-a-childbirth-culture%2F&amp;text=China's%20Reproductive%20Rights%3A%20Calls%20for%20a%20Childbirth%20Culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fchinas-reproductive-rights-calls-for-a-childbirth-culture%2F&amp;text=China's%20Reproductive%20Rights%3A%20Calls%20for%20a%20Childbirth%20Culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/01\/minimum-of-three-erdogans-battle-to-boost-turkeys-birth-rate\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Minimum of Three: Erdo\u011fan\u2019s Battle to Boost Turkey\u2019s Birth Rate<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-768x514.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-1024x686.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/engin-yapici-WA1u0scVLZU-unsplash-2048x1371.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Turkey\u2019s birth rate is falling despite government efforts to reverse the trend. Part of our Gilead Watch campaign, this blog explores Turkey\u2019s demographic changes and the impact of Erdo\u011fan\u2019s pronatalist&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/gilead-watch-protect-womens-rights-from-pronatal-politicians\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Gilead Watch: Protect women&#8217;s rights from pronatal politicians<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gilead-Watch-logo_no-text.png\" class=\"wp-image-525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gilead-Watch-logo_no-text.png 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Gilead-Watch-logo_no-text-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Politicians and others across the world want to limit people&#8217;s rights in order to boost the birth rate. Our campaign shines a light on the threat.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/01\/what-a-second-trump-term-means-for-reproductive-rights\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>What a Second Trump Term Means for Reproductive Rights<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-768x512.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/jon-tyson-FgewqOVtwbY-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Today, Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 47th US President, ushering in renewed threats to reproductive rights. As part of Population Matters\u2019 Welcome to Gilead campaign, Madeleine Hewitt interviews Olivia&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our ongoing series returns to our Welcome to Gilead campaign, examining restrictions on China\u2019s reproductive rights and global trends in reproductive freedom. This update explores recent pronatalist measures in China&#8230;","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":15517,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[9,17,45],"class_list":["post-15510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-asia_population","tag-family_planning","tag-womens-rights"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>China&#039;s Reproductive Rights: Calls for a Childbirth Culture - Population Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"China\u2019s reproductive rights are under pressure as the government pushes pronatalist policies. 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