China approves three-child policy

China's national legislature has formally endorsed the three-child policy. The major shift in policy is aimed at preventing a steep decline in birth rates. The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) had approved a relaxation of its strict two-child policy in May 2021.

The revised Population and Family Planning Law, which allows Chinese couples to have three children, was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), to promote balanced long-term population growth.

Chinese couples have been reluctant to have more children due to the mounting costs. The amended law will provide more social and economic support measures. The country will take supportive measures, including those in finances, taxes, insurance, education, housing, and employment, reported China Daily.

The Chinese government had allowed all couples to have two children in 2016. The country has had a one-child policy for three decades. Policymakers have been blaming the draconian policy for the demographic crisis. Officials claim that the strict policy prevented over 400 million births.

The amendment was made after the once-in-a-decade census showed that China's population grew at the slowest pace to 1.412 billion. The crisis was expected to deepen as the population of people above 60 years grew to 264 million, up by 18.7% last year.