Will Chinese Families Have Three Kids?

China now allows families to have three kids, but will they?

 

China is now encouraging families to have not just two children but three in an announcement made today due to a significant drop in the birth rate in the world's most populous country.

Xinhua reported the change was approved by Chinese President Xi Jinping during a politburo meeting. 

"To further optimize the birth policy, [China] will implement a one-married-couple-can-have-three-children policy," Xinhua said.

The cost of raising children is very expensive

Five years ago China finally scrapped its one-child policy that dates back to 1978, and allowed couples to have two children, but that didn't lead to a significant baby boom thanks to the rising costs of having children, as well as housing and education.

The announcement today was short on specifics in how it would give support and incentives to families to have more children.

Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank (China), said the government would have to offer subsidies, and maybe even set up a new tax system for companies to have the incentive to hire women of childbearing age.

"The high costs of housing and education, as well as a lack of job protection for women, are strong economic constraints on having children," she said, adding the cost of having a third child would be too high for most middle-class families.

This decision comes soon after the release of a summary of census data that pointed to a decline in births in China, and Yi Fuxian, a specialist in China's demographics, said the timing of the announcement so soon after the census summary suggested the detailed data to come would be extremely worrying.

Women's job prospects are low after childbirth

"Maybe it's because the real population data is too scary. Even if they have not published it, it probably frightened the decision makers," Yi said.

The once-in-a-decade census showed the population grew at its slowest rate during the last decade since the 1950s to 1.41 billion.

But the reality of the situation is that young, educated and ambitious women do not want to be baby-making machines. Many are happy to be single let alone married, and prefer having a successful career than the thankless task of looking after a husband and children.

While the government has tried to scorn these women online, that is not going to help the situation, as the ratio of women to men is much smaller, so the pool of women willing to have children is even smaller.

Company policies and attitudes are sexist and need to change -- during job interviews young men are usually chosen over young women because it is assumed the latter will get married soon and have children and then may quit the job. 

Maybe Peng can tell Xi what women go through?

If the government wants to boost the population, it must force employers to find ways to accommodate women before, during and after having children, to keep a job for them or at least give them the opportunity to come back from maternity leave, otherwise how are they going to afford their mortgage, childcare, and pay for education? 

It would be beneficial for companies to retain these workers too; many mothers just want a steady pay cheque, though it is less than what a man would earn in the same position.

So it's all very well and good for the government to tell families to have more children to increase the country's population, but there needs to be specific incentives, services and tax breaks to give couples the financial confidence to have children. 

Grandpa Xi really needs to step up on this issue and look at it from the women's perspective before deciding what carrots he will dangle in front of them.

Perhaps his wife Peng Liyuan, or his daughter Xi Mingze can give him suggestions...

Video of the Day: Carrie Lam's Husband

Xi on stage with performers to celebrate Macau's 20th anniversary handover

Macau is celebrating its 20th anniversary today with a show that is reminiscent of stick-to-the-script happy-faced people in colourful costumes with broad smiles on their faces.

During the rendition of "Ode to the Motherland" that was broadcast on CCTV, lots of performers were standing on stage, with President Xi Jinping front and centre, clapping and singing along with his wife, Peng Liyuan.

HK leader Carrie Lam's husband, Lam Siu-por, has been hailed by some as gutsy frontline 'sau zuk' (hands & feet, the term protesters called each other) after a Macau Daily video shows he has refused to clap & sing the patriotic song with others during the #Macau20 show last night pic.twitter.com/xSU8biG5PM

— Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) December 20, 2019

 

Below watching the stage in the front row were some Hong Kong officials, like Zhang Xiaoming, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Chinese foreign diplomat Wang Yi, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Oh wait -- who's next to her -- it's her husband, Dr Lam Siu-por! We haven't seen him in public in ages!

Carrie Lam’s Husband Dr. Lam Siu-bor decided to take no action when everyone was singing “Ode to the Motherland 歌唱祖國” in Macau. pic.twitter.com/QXctElWMVV

— Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) December 20, 2019

 

And notice how he's not clapping or singing the patriotic song, instead holding his hands together in front.

If you didn't know the words, perhaps you would at least clap along, but Dr Lam didn't even do that. He seems to be the only person purposely not partaking in the song.

Observers immediately jumped on it and described Dr Lam as a "frontline protester".

Wonder what his wife thought about that, and also Xi?

Perhaps more importantly, when will we next see Dr Lam again?!

Lam's New Look?

Carrie Lam wears vibrant red for the flag-raising ceremony on July 1

For her first day in office, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor wanted to show her more human side. So what did she do?

Brought a video team filming her getting her hair and make up done to become Hong Kong's next chief executive.

She changed again to inspect the Macau-Zhuhai-HK Bridge

Really?

None of the previous chief executives -- Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen or Leung Chun-ying did this.

I really don't care what the leader of Hong Kong looks like as long as he/she does a good job.

The video on Facebook shows her in a salon where someone is setting her hair and another putting on her make up at 5.30am.

https://www.facebook.com/carrielam.hksar/videos/751967808316121/

And she did four wardrobe changes -- it seemed coordinated with Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, who wore more understated black on July 1, while Lam wore bright colours.

Peng Liyuan (left) in muted colours compared to Lam (right)

Was this really necessary?

Is this a sign Lam is becoming a fashion plate?

We aren't convinced this is a new side of Lam, but more window dressing of a new regime...

Strange Relations with China

Hopefully PM-designate Justin Trudeau has more skill in dealing with China

After a sojourn to North America, it's time to focus back on Asia, though we are thrilled to see Canadians vote for change in installing Justin Trudeau as the next Prime Minister.

The result of 184 seats to lead a majority government was not expected out of Trudeau early in the campaign, who was thought to be the political lightweight.

But he proved his adversaries wrong, and also public sentiment built up to the point of saying, "enough is enough! Time for change!"

While it will take some time for the 43-year-old charismatic Liberal leader to undo the damage Harper has done in the past almost decade, we hope Trudeau has the wisdom to be pragmatic and nuanced in his dealings with China.

Harper on his first visit to China in 2009 with Wen Jiabao

Harper learned the hard way and paid dearly for it. It was so embarrassing to watch then Premier Wen Jiabao tear a strip off of Harper in 2009 before allowing Canada to have the Approved Destination Status so that more mainlanders could come visit the country as individual tourists.

So while Harper did the grovelling, we hope Trudeau doesn't have to do that and can return Sino-Canadian relations back to a decent, amicable level where the Chinese still rave about Norman Bethune.

At the moment, the UK is bending over backwards in inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping on his first state visit there. Even the Queen has opened the gates at Buckingham Palace to welcome him and wife Peng Liyuan to stay with Her Majesty.

Xi Jinping meeting the Queen and staying in her digs

Have the corgis been locked up to avoid being Xi's supper???

Jokes aside, it's quite astounding how much Prime Minister David Cameron is going all out to ensure Xi and Peng have the royal treatment -- which is ironic considering the Chinese got rid of the imperialist dynasties in 1911.

Does Cameron think that by giving his guests the ultimate kowtow that China is going to open its doors wide open to the UK and let it plunder it again, this time economically?

Does Queen Victoria have to leave the park?

What's also ironic is that at the same time Xi is being hosted by the monarchy, the Chinese are deploring that Hong Kong has too many vestiges of British colonialism and now want them covered up or taken down.

Hong Kong Post is frantically going to cover up the last mail boxes that have the royal insignias on them, but does that also mean getting rid of the statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Park, and renaming the area, the People's Park, like every other mainland city has?

Does that also mean changing the names of all the British-named streets we have too? Talk about confusion!

For the Chinese trying to get rid of Hong Kong's last bits of colonialism is like whitewashing the city's history. This is a part of who we are -- this is where Hong Kong gets its values, like freedom of speech, freedom of the press, rule of law.

Again, I'm repeating a broken record refrain, but this indicates yet again that the Chinese do not understand Hong Kong and its identity, and how its unique history can be its advantage.

Instead it seems, the Chinese would rather force Hong Kong to bend to its will, while enjoying the scones and afternoon tea with the Queen...

Peng Liyuan the next Soong Mei-ling?

Peng Liyuan sitting with poise at the United Nations in New York

China's First Lady Peng Liyuan is fast proving herself to be President Xi Jinping's secret weapon in charming the world with her soft power.

This was evident in Peng's speech at the Global Education First Initiative event at the United Nations where she spoke in English. There is debate about how fluent her English was, as she spoke slowly to ensure she enunciated each word clearly, but it's not often we hear senior officials -- let alone a senior leader's wife -- speak in English.

Peng's soft touch has resonated with people in the West...

Is it because as a professional singer she is used to being in front of a large audience? Or is it all a performance to her, wearing makeup and dressing in stylish clothes?

We'd like to take this opportunity to compare her to Soong Mei-ling, who was the wife of Chiang Kai-shek.

She was the Wesleyan College-educated daughter of a businessman, who made his money printing Chinese-language bibles, and married in 1927. the Generalissimo's spokesperson, visiting the United States many times to lobby for the Nationalist's war effort.

... much like Madame Chiang Kai-shek with General Stilwell

Madam Chiang is also best known for being the first Chinese national and second woman to address both houses of the US Congress.

Meanwhile Peng, who is UNESCO's Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls' and Women's Education, talked about growing up in a small village and how her father took it upon himself to teach villagers how to read newspapers and write their names.

"As his daughter, I know what education means to the people, especially those without it," said Peng, who said being a beneficiary of China's progress in education had enabled her to become a soprano and professor of music.

Madame Chiang with Eleanor Roosevelt

While they are on opposite ends of the political spectrum, both are achieving the same ends, trying to influence the West.

Right now Peng is doing a pretty good job showing the world that China isn't just about a rising superpower, but that it's got some class and pizzazz.

State Dinner's Asian Twist

The two couples say cheese before dinner at the White House

Yesterday US President Barack Obama hosted a state dinner for visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan at the White House.

Mark Zuckerberg with Priscilla Chan

The guest list included Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his pregnant wife Priscilla (in a ravishing red lace dress might we add). First Lady Michelle Obama wasn't afraid to show off some cleavage in an off the shoulder Vera Wang black ball gown, though Xi's wife Peng was more demure in a peacock blue dress.

Xi wore his mandarin jacket probably in an attempt to hide his large frame, but really, he already wears ties, so why not a bow tie? The jacket just looks too plain... maybe Peng can work on that...

Anyway my sister-in-law pointed out that the chef who cooked that evening was Anita Lo, chef and owner of Annisa restaurant in New York. We actually ate there two years ago, and I remember it being curious flavour combinations and ingredients.

The main course featured one of her signature items, garlic fried milk, a crunchy smooth  garnish for the grilled Colorado lamb.

Anita Lo of Annisa cooked the state dinner that evening

What an honour for Lo, and her dinner must have shaken up the palates of the Chinese delegation to see a new interpretation of Chinese and Western food!

A Mighty Fine Temporary Distraction

Some 12,000 soldiers showing off their practiced moves in Tiananmen Square

When I lived in Beijing several years ago, we never marked September 3, the anniversary of the end of World War II with a public holiday.

So it was strange to find China was celebrating the 70th anniversary with a day off -- and Hong Kong too -- because historically it was the Nationalists who fought off the Japanese and suffered great casualties, not the Communists.

But then again massaging the facts to be compatible with the PRC narrative is nothing new.

Xi Jinping inspects the troops in his Mao suit

It also fits into Chinese President Xi Jinping's plans to prove to not only the country, but the world who is in charge of 1.3 billion people.

Like his predecessor, he too wore a tailored dark Mao suit as he inspected the 12,000 soldiers, who had been practicing for probably months for this big event. Apparently they rehearsed marching so much that they wore out 16,000 pairs of boots.

Factories were shut down, people were swept off the streets and businesses in the area were closed -- basically no ordinary citizen was allowed to witness the parade first hand and instead had to watch it on television.

Xi also had his wife Peng Liyuan attend, the first time the First Lady has been allowed to be part of the festivities. She wore the obligatory red dress and pearls, giving a bit more style to the proceedings.

In his speech, Xi spoke of China's contribution to the victor of the allied powers to remind the West of the Middle Kingdom's standing.

"With huge national sacrifice, the Chinese people held ground in the main theatre in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War, thus making a major contribution to its victory," he said.''

China showed up its military might on the ground and air

"In the interests of peace, we need to foster a keen sense of a global community of a shared future. All countries should jointly uphold the international order and system underpinned by the purposes of the UN Charter," Xi continued."

He added: "China will never seek hegemony or expansion."

If China is seeking peace, then why this extraordinary show of military might? Lots of hardware was out in force to show its citizens and the world who's got power.

But while the parade was predictable, many residents were bursting with nationalistic pride -- particularly when being interviewed by foreign media.

They parroted phrases about how the parade showed how great the country is. They seemed to temporarily forget the stock market is on the fritz and there are still no answers as to what caused the massive explosions at a warehouse in Tianjin that has left at least 160 people dead.

And for Xi to say that China is not seeking hegemony or expansion is intriguing considering what's happening in the South China Sea. China has practically reclaimed land on a set of disputed reefs, even building an airstrip. If that's not expansionist, I don't know what that is.

China's party is over for now, though in less than a month there may be more celebrations with National Day on October 1.

It probably won't be as grand as it was today, though many residents may be glad giving the appearance that all is perfect in the Middle Kingdom is over, and now they can go about their daily lives again...

The Style Offensive

Li Keqiang looks on as his wife Cheng Hong shakes hands with the Queen

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle, along with his wife Cheng Hong in a lavish-looking drawing room.

Usually only heads of state are given an opportunity to meet the Queen, but the Chinese side pushed for this meeting, threatening the trip would be off if the visit was not granted.

From the pictures it looks like the Queen is thrilled to meet them...

Cheng Hong looks matronly on her arrival in London

Cheng is an English professor at Capital University of Economics and Business, and so she was probably brought along on the trip to add a feminine touch to China's soft power.

However, she could take some fashion tips from China's first lady Peng Liyuan who has proven her ability to charm through her stylish wardrobe.

When Cheng disembarked the plane in London she wore a matronly outfit perfect for highly-strung headmistresses. The same when she met the Queen -- but even more fuddy duddy in an overly-elaborate jacket that was too busy.

We appreciate the simple lines she likes in her suits, but how about more interesting colours?

My friend YTSL must be laughing reading my latest fashion critique, but if China wants to flex its economic muscles as Li is doing in London, surely the chic-ness factor needs to be turned up several notches to be taken seriously as a wealthy superpower with taste?

Michelle Obama's Soft Power

Never seen Chinese President Xi Jinping posing with so many women before

First Lady Michelle Obama's putting on a good show of soft power during her visit to Beijing these few days.

She did the usual touristy things like visit the Forbidden City -- without any other tourists around -- and tried her hand at calligraphy and table tennis.

First Lady Michelle Obama with her counterpart Peng Liyuan

However for her counterpart Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, acting the hostess seemed nerve-wracking for her -- despite being used to performing on stage.

The political arena was new for Peng and admitted she was nervous when she and Mrs Obama were writing calligraphy.

Peng picked up a brush and wrote a four-character saying: "Only people of great virtue are suited to undertake great things".

Mrs Obama got the hang of table tennis and had a lot of fun, adding, "My husband plays. He thinks he's better than he really is."

Today the First Lady gave a speech at Peking University, saying that freedom of speech particularly on the Internet and in the news media was the foundation for a vibrant society.

Mrs Obama trying her hand at calligraphy with Peng Liyuan

"Time and again, we have seen that countries are stronger and more prosperous when the voices and opinions of all their citizens can be heard," she said. The United States, she continued, respected the "uniqueness" of other cultures and societies. "But when it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshiping as you choose, and having open access to information -- we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet."

While criticism of Chinese leaders are quickly wiped out of cyberspace, Mrs Obama explained that not everything was rosy for her and President Obama.

"My husband and i are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens," she said. "And it's not always easy, but we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

Speeches like these give the average Chinese a mini insight into what life is like in America; and usually they are made on the progressive campus of Peking University.

Mrs Obama extolling the virtues of free speech at Peking U

With Chinese and American students present, perhaps Mrs Obama will do her part to influence the next generation of leaders... if the Party loosens up...