China's Sichuan Province Lifts All Birth Restrictions

China's Sichuan Province , Lifts All Birth Restrictions. 'The Guardian' reports that a province in China with over 80 million people will lift all birth restrictions as part of a national drive to increase the country's birth rate. On January 30, the health commission of Sichuan announced that it would lift restrictions on unmarried people having children. The commission said it would also lift the cap on the number of births and registrations for any parent. 'The Guardian' reports that the new measures will be in place for the next five years. The news comes as China has been introducing a growing list of measures and legislative changes aimed at encouraging people to have children. In 2022, China's population fell for the first time in sixty years. . The shift from China's punitive one-child policy comes as the number of aging people on state welfare grows while the number of work-age people shrinks. . The strict one-child policy included financial penalties and forced abortions until it was brought to an end in 2016. 'The Guardian' reports that many young people in China have rejected the idea of marriage and childbirth. Young people often cite the high cost of living, reduced social mobility, career pressures and the expectations placed on women in Chinese society. Young people often cite the high cost of living, reduced social mobility, career pressures and the expectations placed on women in Chinese society