China’s population falls for a 2nd straight year as births drop even after end of one-child policy
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| AP snap |
The falling births reflect a decline in the fertility rate that is a long-term economic and societal challenge for China.
Women are having fewer babies despite government incentives and the easing of its one-child policy in recent years to allow up to three children.
"By the end of 2023, the national population was 1,409.67 million... a decrease of 2.08 million over that at the end of 2022," Beijing's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Wednesday. Once the world's most populous country, China was overtaken by India last year, with Beijing now scrambling to boost falling birth rates through subsidies and pro-fertility propaganda.
The total population stood at 1.4 billion, the statistics bureau said. China, long the most populated country in the world, dropped into second place behind India in 2023, according to U.N. estimates.
China ended its strict "one-child policy", imposed in the 1980s amid overpopulation fears, in 2016 and started letting couples have three children in 2021.
But that has failed to reverse the demographic decline for a country that has long relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth. Many blame falling birth rates on the soaring cost of living, as well as the growing number of women going into the workforce and seeking higher education.
"The trend of China's population decline is basically impossible to reverse," He Yafu, an independent Chinese demographer, told AFP.
"Even if fertility is encouraged, it is impossible for China's fertility rate to rise to replacement level, because now the younger generation has fundamentally changed its conception of fertility and is generally unwilling to have more children," He Yafu said.
To postpone an economic crisis as the pool of working-age adults shrinks, He said the government should roll out more incentives including childrearing stipends, "developing universal child-care services, and increasing the rate of children under the age of three entering nursery schools".
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| Great Wall of China: Blogger 2019 visit |
Wellness Tourism: Japanese strategy to sustain and revitalize key economic sectors ::::
But 'aging population' is also a serious issue
Japan is poised to take advantage of the growth in well-being tourism. Valued at US$303.6 billion, Japan’s wellness economy is the second-largest in the Asia-Pacific region and the third-largest in the world as of August 2023, according to Global Wellness Institute.
“Well-being has long been part of Japan’s spiritual culture, from its forest bathing experiences immersed in nature to its centuries of enjoying onsen hot springs for both therapeutic and relaxation purposes,” said the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), adding that new offerings continue to be launched, reports TTGAsia.com.
Zen retreat Zenbo Seinei, which opened in April 2022, offers a dedicated space for meditation and yoga on Awaji Island located in the Seto Inland Sea. Day-trippers and overnight guests can also enjoy vegan cuisine using seasonal, local produce from the island, as well as experiences in the tea ceremony, traditional calligraphy and other contemplative activities. In Toyama Prefecture, River Retreat Garaku provides Art Walk, a new activity that leads guests through lush mountain and river scenery along the Jinzu Gorge using a series of Japanese contemporary art works.
Japan is also attracting international brands focusing on wellness.
The Japanese government's encouragement of medical tourism is part of a larger, deliberate plan to mitigate the economic impacts of its demographic decline.
By introducing policies such as the medical visa, Japan has not only made it easier for foreign visitors to access its healthcare services but has also actively marketed its medical expertise on an international stage. This trend, however, also highlights a deeper concern for Japan.
"It’s once again a stark reminder of its aging population and the challenges it faces in maintaining economic growth with a shrinking domestic market," saysan article in UCA News.
The situation in Japan serves as a perfect example of how demographic shifts can profoundly impact a nation's economy and societal structure.
Japanese clinics emphasize personalized care, privacy, and ample time for patient-doctor interactions, a stark contrast to the often overcrowded facilities in China. The government sees them as a means to revitalize local economies amidst an aging population.
The introduction of a medical visa in 2011, allowing foreign visitors to stay for healthcare for up to a year, has significantly facilitated this growth. Over the past decade, the number of such visas issued has risen from less than 100 to almost 2,000 annually.
The Japanese government estimates that in 2020, over 10,000 Chinese visitors came for comprehensive medical examinations, and a smaller group of around 1,000 sought advanced cancer treatments. This evolving market has not only attracted traditional hospitals and clinics but has also seen companies outside the healthcare sector venturing into medical tourism to cater to Chinese tourists.
This trend reflects a broader Japanese strategy to sustain and revitalize key economic sectors. With fewer domestic elite customers in the immediate future, the need to attract foreign clientele has become increasingly crucial, particularly for clinics that would otherwise see a decline in revenue.
This initiative is similar to Japan's earlier push for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector, a move aimed at countering workforce shortages before the eventual shift to complete mechanization.
The upcoming Osaka Expo, scheduled for next year, presents a vivid example of Japan's current economic paradox.
While the event is primarily funded by Japanese taxpayers' money, its success heavily hinges on expenditure by foreign visitors, particularly in the service sector. This dynamic creates a dichotomy wherein, for the average Japanese citizen not directly involved in these sectors, the Expo translates into a net financial loss rather than a benefit.
The push to attract more tourists, including those visiting for medical treatments, must be viewed through this lens.
While it may seem like a lucrative strategy for economic growth, it brings its own set of challenges, particularly in a nation grappling with the impacts of over-tourism.
Cities like Kyoto and Tokyo have felt the strain of an excessive tourist presence, leading to overcrowding and draining of local infrastructure and resources. The influx of medical tourists, though beneficial to specific sectors like healthcare, adds another layer to this complex situation, says the UCAN article.
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