Pregnancy in China

As we prepared to move to China, I remember having a conversation with someone about living conditions. We had no real knowledge about China, and I remember voicing that I thought that China had abolished its One Child Policy.

I quickly learned that the One Child Policy is not only still on the books, but quite firmly enforced. My facts come from the rumor mill, which is often the best source of information in China. Here's my understanding:

• An urban family may have one child.
• An ultrasound may not tell the family the sex of the child, to discourage gender selection.
• A rural family may have two children, but not within 3 years of each other.
• If a woman becomes pregnant again, the family must pay a fine.
• Reports vary on the cost of the fine, from 1 year or your household income, to 3 years salary, or just 60,000 RMB (about 10,000 USD).
• For those who can not afford the fines, a woman can be forced to have an abortion. This even if she is due the next day.
• Anyone can report a pregnant family. A snitch earns 100RMB (about 14USD) for each credible report.
• If a family pays the fine, they have no more trouble. Wealthy families in China do choose to bear two children.
• If a family manages to carry a child to term without paying the fine, they are faced with a few options. Two of these options I have discussed before: either killing to child, or giving her up for adoption. The last option is to raise the child hukou. This child will have no identity. He or she will be ineligible for a passport, medical assistance or public schools. When they grow up, they will be unable to find legal work or housing. This same consequence occurs when a family moves illegaly to another province - our driver's family lives in his home village because it is the only place his daughter can receive schooling and medical care.
• Mixed couples are not removed from this law. A Chinese person married to a foreigner may legally have a second child, but a third child can not be born inside China.

The conversation arose because a pregnant German woman married to a Chinese man visited a local hospital for her first child. She did not mention her pregnancy, or discuss it with anyone. But the next day, someone knocked on her door asking that her family consider re-registering because of their recent growth.

Every person in China is required to register with their local housing authority. We have registered. If you stay at our home, we will register you. When we stay at a hotel, they register us. When a baby is born, it is registered with the housing authority. This woman became concerned that they may try to enforce China's One Child Policy on her.

She and her baby are quite safe, but many women and their babies are not. The policy is difficult, because although it is clearly inhumane, it also addresses the very serious problem of overpopulation in China.

I would not run for office in China. This country faces tremendous growth and potential, but also tremendous problems.