Reflections on China's declining population

INDIA, according to the latest United Nations world demography report, is now the most populous country on the planet. That's not because the Indians are avid followers of the Kama Sutra. It's rather due to the champion China slipping to second place. This appears to be in turn the consequence in large part of a state population control policy in the 1970s that required couples not to have more than one child. Violators faced severe sanctions: job loss, heavy fines or imprisonment.

(The writer does not suggest there's a contest in prolificity between China and India. The latter during the first term of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi waged under a state of emergency a draconian campaign to vasectomize mainly the poor male population. Millions died from botched operations; victims were dragged from their homes to unsanitary, improvised operating tables. With Gandhi's campaign likened to Hitler's sterilization of the Jews, gays, the disabled and the elderly, the Congress Party lost the elections held afterwards, and Gandhi was booted out of office.)