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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.1.4 bil but no more? China's population growth closer to zero
By JOE McDONALD and HUIZHONG WU BEIJING©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
41 Comments
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Yubaru
Not too far down the road China is going to be facing what Japan is going through now.
quercetum
55 is nice. Plenty of time to do all you would like to do.
Express sister
China's retirement age is 55!? Wow. That's, uh, pretty cool. Maybe I'll get a job there when I'm 54.
Toshihiro
Ironic isn't it, your're making a living but you're basically forced to live life less. I should say that married males , especially those with young children, tend to put off employers too since they'll most likely prioritize the kid more than the job. I wonder when will the world realize that we're not living sustainably.
Until when, though? When the current workforce isn't replenished in the coming generations, who will man them? It would be good if they'd allow foreign workers to fill those in.
Addfwyn
Good, the entire model of constant growth is obviously not sustainable. Populations can't grow infinitely within limited resources. At some point we either step up and slow/decrease populations, or an extinction event will take care of it for us.
One of the world's most populous countries achieving almost a 0 population growth shows it can be done.
shogun36
Don't they have those "unrecorded" or "unwanted" population as well? Or whatever they are called? The ones that can't get a job or place to live because they weren't wanted? I remember seeing a DOC about that one time. Do those people count?
Yubaru
One of? Last time I checked it was THE most populous country. You also conveniently overlook at what cost it took to get there, and the cost it is going to pay in the future, for a goal that, in the long run, sure seems like a huge mistake!
How many thousands maybe millions, of "girl" infants were slaughtered, because they were the wrong sex,and the government only allowed one child?
Kyakusenbi_Arimasu
@Yubaru:
Not true. If you look at full articles rather than the one posted here you will see different and more expanded information, even though much of the text is the same and photos as well. Here are some parts left out.
Sven Asai
The much bigger problem is , what then follows, what bunch of countries and kind of people will take it all over , because they have unbelievable sharply rising populations. That is it what you all really should have fears about and everyday sleepless nights with nightmares.
Zaphod
Simian Lane
Correction: A smaller population is fine. The problem is the skewed age pyramid, while a population is shrinking.
Speed
Does any of this sound familiar to you guys?
The Avenger
So when should it (population growth) stop? We need a reckoning between those who worry about a slowdown in human population growth and those who understand human population growth is unsustainable.
Chabbawanga
Fewer people is exactly what the world needs.
JJ Jetplane
@Toshihiro
I understand what you are saying. But what I see as the bigger problem with Japan even trying to attempt to switch towards a more technological approach is the fact that they don't teach, develop, or invest in their employees acquiring skills. As the world shifts towards technology, skills become more important and Japanese companies don't like to create skilled workers because they assume it would cause their skilled workers to seek better working conditions elsewhere as skilled workers are a premium.
Peeping_Tom
"Not too far down the road China is going to be facing what Japan is going through now."
No, they will not.
They will fare far worse. China will not be able to "lose" four decades as Japan has.
The article says it, it appears you did not read properly or understood it then.
Japan (and Germany) aged as a rich economy. With abundant capital reserves and high-end technology.
That high-end tech not seen with naked eyes which China cannot replicate till today.
Japa is the "world's banker".
China is aging faster than most other countries (including Japan) on a low-income economy, with farming and intensive manufacturing for a base.
Many postings here assume that China's second-largest GDP means they are rich, forever growing, and unstoppable.
They weren't reading because this is "old" news.
Toshihiro
@JJ Jetplane - I agree with you and get that feeling too. I rarely had any skills development training in my job and had to self-teach myself most of the stuff I need to know. If I'm going into the mindset of those people, automated is cheaper and more reliable than training your people, which isn't favorable for us. I hope they learn from their mistakes this early on before they become irreversible. I fear that this lifestyle is making us become less human and more like machines. As what the other commenters said, where will we see ourselves in the future if we continue to live on an achievement-driven system?
Silvafan
@shogun
Those are the people who were born mostly during the one-child policy era. They were unwanted because they are female, or they were wanted, but their parents could not register them for fear of punishment!
I read a story about a month ago about a Chinese woman who found out that she was adopted while engaged. It turned out that her fiance was also adopted. They discovered that fiance's adoptive mother was the one who abandoned the woman when she was a child.
Talk about an awkward wedding ceremony!
Silvafan
I agree with JJ Jetplane. The most well-known example of this concept was the "Ghosn case". We have learned that Nissan basically framed Ghosn because they would rather ruin his reputation than to have him leave for greener pastures!
I have personally dealt with vindictive Japanese companies when I decided to resign because I understand my value as an employee.
gakinotsukai
how about a pension ? ever cooler when possible ...
afewtoomany
Surely the first "million" is an error
Aly Rustom
very soon. And the sooner the better.
Yeah Japan is too. But to 70. maybe China can gradually do the same.
Silvafan
I also think this article fail to mention all the Chinese citizens that were supported by the CCP to live and work abroad. Chinese projects in other countries are mostly to hire Chinese workers, so they can pay taxes and send money back home while being a less of a strain on the services helps the government. These expats have no problem having large families in foreign countries. The CCP have been trying to put their population spillage onto other countries for decades. It also increases their soft power and supports their espionage activities abroad. Most countries around the world has a Chinatown. How many of those residents work for the CCP?
Aly Rustom
Empty Planet: Preparing for the Global Population Decline - YouTube
Here is an excellent Ted Talk that talks about the problem- 2 Canadian statisticians give a VERY interesting perspective on future demographics. VERY INTERESTING
Express sister
Alas, most Western nations won't guarantee that in a liveable amount. I must confess don't know China's pension policy.
The trend of increasing the retirement age is, however, horrific. The solution of capitalist governments to honoring their commitments to their citizens is to work them until they die before they can claim the money they have given the state. The average age of death has stalled among working class people, but is raising among the ultra wealthy, skewing the figures.
We must instead change our vision of what work is, who owns the products of their labor, and how to care for our elders in what should be the reward of their lives.
viking68
Henry Kissinger once said that he wasn't concerned by China because 700m were still pre-agricultural.
Looks like there has been some improvement.
Africa is learning the hard lesson that it is more than just that. The goal is to spend money on Chinese goods. Hardly any money is spent locally. An even bigger problem is that the other countries are taking out loans made by China to fund projects that will be eventually be owned by China.
Need a dam to improve access to water and reduce floods, China will help you.
Zaphod
Aly Rustom
Unlike the Japanese government, the CCP can order the people what to do, and they do it. Once the CCP recognizes the problem, look forward to more pregnancies.
Peeping_Tom
"Henry Kissinger once said that he wasn't concerned by China because 700m were still pre-agricultural.
Looks like there has been some improvement."
True.
They were a young country then.
Now they are one of the most rapidly aging Nations on earth.
With a low income populace, agricultural and intensive manufacturing industries for a base.
See the problems/issues?
JeffLee
Mass immigration of people from throughout the world is the answer! Just kidding. No it isn't.
Zaphod
P. Smith
The Japanese government has been making suggestions to have more babies, but I don´t see people "snapping into line".
The CCP, on the other hand, can enforce abortions, harvest organs, run concentration camps, carry out forced sterilizations, assign husbands.... you seriously think that is comparable?
krustytheclown
Just don't breathe the air or drink the water and you'll be fine.
fxgai
I can’t personally imagine wanting to immigrate to CCP China either to be honest, though no doubt some might want to. Japan is a better option.
theFu
Immigration? How many people actually try to risk their lives to immigrate into China? The only place I've ever heard do that was North Koreans.
Desert Tortoise
Not true. The CCP has been trying to get people to have more kids for a decade knowing this demographic cliff was fast approaching. They haven't succeeded. Big dense cities, both Asian and European, with most everyone living in high rise apartment or condo blocks are not conducive to raising families. It takes two wage earners in most countries today and that leaves the parents will too little time and energy for raising kids. Plus the cost of living in these cities is such that most people live on a financial razors edge from paycheck to paycheck with little saved.
Desert Tortoise
The Danes have figured out how to maintain their population. They offer a large array of family support programs. France also has a total fertility rate right at replacement so their population is stable. It is possible to do, but governments at all levels have to make decisions about social services so young couples can either afford child care so both can work or earn enough so one parent can stay home and raise the children. Working people ten to twelve hours a day like the corporate world does is not the way forward. Nations must rethink how they organize their societies.
Strangerland
Right wingers are always scared 24 hours a day. Their whole movement thrives on making people afraid, and exploiting that fear.
Must be a sad, pathetic existence to always be afraid and angry.
Aly Rustom
That's not how its going to work.
Only to the ethnic minorities. They are not going to be able to reverse the trend of declining birthrate through draconian measures. That's pie in the sky thinking.
Tora
You are confusing population growth with fertility rate. The fertility rate is dropping,no matter where you look.