China's Sichuan province abolishes restrictions on children born out of wedlock - Part of countermeasures against declining birthrate

Recently CNN News on-line reported the following:

中国・四川省が婚外子の制限撤廃　少子化対策の一環

2023.01.31 Tue posted at 20:30 JST

香港（ＣＮＮ） 中国南西部の四川省で２月以降、結婚していないカップルの間に生まれた子どもの出生登録が認められるようになる。省当局が少子化対策の一環として、婚外子への制限撤廃を決めた。

四川省では現在、結婚した夫婦だけに子ども２人までの出生登録が認められている。２月１５日からは、結婚していない親を含めた全市民が、人数の上限なく子どもの出生を登録できる。

中国では一般に、妊婦の健康保険、出産にかかわる医療保険、産休などの手続きや、子どもが医療、教育を受けるための戸籍取得などに出生登録が必要となる。

同省の保健当局者は地元メディアとのインタビューで、シングルマザーの権利を守ることが目的だと述べ、未婚のカップルが親になることを推奨するわけではないと強調した。当局は、長期的にバランスの取れた人口開発を推進するための政策だと説明している。

中国では２０１５年に一人っ子政策を廃止してからも少子化に歯止めがかからず、昨年は６１年ぶりに人口が減少した。婚外子については四川省に先立ち、南東部の広東省や中部の陝西省も同様に制限を撤廃している。

Translation

Hong Kong (CNN) China's southwestern province of Sichuan would from February allow birth registration for children born to unmarried couples. The provincial authorities had decided to abolish restrictions on children born out of wedlock as part of measures to combat the declining birthrate.

Sichuan province currently only allowed married couples to register the births of up to two children. From February 15, all citizens, including unmarried parents, might register the birth of an unlimited number of children.

In China in generally, birth registration would be needed for family registration for procedures such as health insurance for pregnant women, medical insurance for childbirth, maternity leave, and for children to receive medical care and education.

In an interview with local media, a ministry health official said the aim was to protect the rights of single mothers, stressing that he did not encourage unmarried couples to become parents. Officials clarified that the policy was to promote balanced population development over a long term.

Even after China abolished its one-child policy in 2015, the declining birthrate had not stopped, and last year the population declined for the first time in 61 years. Ahead of Sichuan, Guangdong province in the southeast and Shaanxi province located in the middle of country had also lifted restrictions on illegitimate children.

              So, following Guangdong province and Shaanxi province, Sichuan will allow birth registration for children born to unmarried couples as China’s population is declining. I am interested in knowing whether the birthrate will rise again under the new policy.