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China family planning officials levied £160m in fines in three years China family planning officials levied £160m in fines in three years
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Chinese family planning officials illegally levied more than £160m in fines between 2009 and 2012, Chinese auditors have revealed, reinforcing widespread suspicions that government officials have reaped financial gains from the country's one-child policy.Chinese family planning officials illegally levied more than £160m in fines between 2009 and 2012, Chinese auditors have revealed, reinforcing widespread suspicions that government officials have reaped financial gains from the country's one-child policy.
The controversial policy, introduced in 1979 to keep population growth in check, has been relaxed in recent years – while most Chinese people are still only allowed to have one child, some groups, including ethnic minorities and only-child couples, are allowed to have two. The controversial policy, introduced in 1979 to keep population growth in check, has been relaxed in recent years. While most Chinese people are still only allowed to have one child, some groups, including ethnic minorities and only-child couples, are allowed to have two.
Violating the policy can incur heavy fines – officially called "social compensation fees" – which, even for impoverished farmers, can amount to thousands of pounds.Violating the policy can incur heavy fines – officially called "social compensation fees" – which, even for impoverished farmers, can amount to thousands of pounds.
An investigation by China's National Audit Office covering 45 counties in nine provinces from early 2009 through to May, 2012 identified 1.6 billion yuan (£162m) in "misappropriated" family planning fees, state media reported on Thursday. In response, the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission has "vowed to clamp down on birth control fines" reported Xinhua, China's state newswire. An investigation by China's National Audit Office covering 45 counties in nine provinces from early 2009 through to May 2012 identified 1.6bn yuan (£162m) in "misappropriated" family planning fees, state media reported on Thursday. In response, the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission has "vowed to clamp down on birth control fines" reported Xinhua, China's state newswire.
"The office revealed various problems in the handling of fines, including inaccurate reports relating to the number of extra children parents had, fees not successfully collected and local officials handing out higher fines than what they should have," Xinhua reported. Central government regulations require the funds to be allocated towards public services. Yet the state-run broadcaster China Radio International said that some were used as "hospitality expenditures" and "allowance paid for government staff"."The office revealed various problems in the handling of fines, including inaccurate reports relating to the number of extra children parents had, fees not successfully collected and local officials handing out higher fines than what they should have," Xinhua reported. Central government regulations require the funds to be allocated towards public services. Yet the state-run broadcaster China Radio International said that some were used as "hospitality expenditures" and "allowance paid for government staff".
"Maybe curbing these abuses would be one way of progressively relaxing the system," said Nicholas Bequelin, a Hong Kong-based senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Because this is the hard edge of population planning – it's not constructive to say the least, it's a factor of social unrest, it's deeply unpopular, and deeply unequal, because it disproportionately targets people in the countryside and migrant women in cities." "Maybe curbing these abuses would be one way of progressively relaxing the system," said Nicholas Bequelin, a Hong-Kong-based senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Because this is the hard edge of population planning – it's not constructive to say the least, it's a factor of social unrest, it's deeply unpopular, and deeply unequal, because it disproportionately targets people in the countryside and migrant women in cities."
In July, a lawyer in Zhejiang province shed light on the family planning system's notoriously opaque finances when he obtained records from family planning offices in 17 provinces. In 2012, the offices collectively levied 16.5b yuan (£1.7b) in fines, he found. None detailed how the money was spent. In July, a lawyer in Zhejiang province shed light on the family planning system's notoriously opaque finances when he obtained records from family planning offices in 17 provinces. In 2012, the offices collectively levied 16.5bn yuan (£1.7bn) in fines, he found. None detailed how the money was spent.
Critics have called the one-child policy archaic and cruel. They say it has fueled a rise in sex-selective abortions, as many rural families prefer boys to girls, and a latent demographic crunch, whereby only children must financially support a large cohort of ageing relatives. Critics have called the one-child policy archaic and cruel. They say it has fuelled a rise in sex-selective abortions, as many rural families prefer boys to girls, and a latent demographic crunch, whereby only children must financially support a large cohort of ageing relatives.
It has also engendered a host of human rights violations. Abductions, forced abortions, and extra-legal detentions are still common in rural areas where family planning officials wield enormous power.It has also engendered a host of human rights violations. Abductions, forced abortions, and extra-legal detentions are still common in rural areas where family planning officials wield enormous power.
"I think there is a perception that population planning doesn't really matter anymore in China – that people don't really care, and that people who do care can just pay the fines," said Bequelin. "I think this is a mistaken view. It might be true for the majority of the urban population, but it's certainly not true for a large part of the rural population, especially in the poorest parts of the country." "I think there is a perception that population planning doesn't really matter any more in China – that people don't really care, and that people who do care can just pay the fines," said Bequelin. "I think this is a mistaken view. It might be true for the majority of the urban population, but it's certainly not true for a large part of the rural population, especially in the poorest parts of the country."
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