Bioethical Problems of China’s Demographic Policy: Background and Present

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of bioethical problems of China’s demographic policy. One of the main instruments of birth control in the country for 30 years was artificial termination of pregnancy – abortion. Because of this, contradiction between the political course of the state and the traditional, rooted in society, moral principles and values arises. Population policy has become a harsh method of restricting the reproductive rights and freedom of private life of the Chinese population. The current situation determines relevance and necessity of studying China’s demographic policy from the point of view of bioethics. Thus, the article discusses background for approval of the policy “One family – one child”; the implications of this policy, such as the bioethical issues of medical termination of pregnancy and selective abortion in China; transformation of the traditional institution of the family; moral and ethical status of the second child; the problem of the prohibition of surrogate motherhood; gender imbalance; increase in illegal services in the field of medical and reproductive technologies. Bioethical aspects of modern Chinese demography; socio-cultural changes in Chinese society due to a long period of birth control policies are analyzed. The reasons for the low efficiency of modern state measures to stimulate childbearing are considered.