CCP Control Extends to Marriage and Childbearing Choices

A comparison of how the CCP and Hamas educate children reveals that both are terror organisations of the same nature! (X platform/Truth Media)

[People News] In response to the CCP's authoritarian and oppressive governance, the Chinese public has long summarised the situation: they control the heavens, the earth, and the air. Now, managing air is no longer sufficient; there is a pressing need to further regulate the hormones of the populace. Previously, couples were allowed to have only one child, but now certain provinces are mandating the birth of a second or even third child. This is still not enough, as even children born out of wedlock are set to be legalised. To achieve these goals, the CCP's Cyberspace Administration has also taken action, recently launching a so-called special initiative that prohibits the promotion of not marrying and not having children, as well as anti-marriage and anti-childbearing messages. In response, some netizens expressed their outrage, questioning whether authorities will soon regulate how we squat in the toilet if this continues.

As the Chinese New Year of 2026 approaches, the CCP's Cyberspace Administration has initiated a so-called special action, focusing on four major 'issues': maliciously inciting negative emotions, generating and disseminating 'digital refuse' information, fabricating and spreading false information, and directing traffic to illegal activities (such as gambling). Among the strict prohibitions is the ban on 'maliciously provoking negative emotions,' which includes discouraging the promotion of not marrying and not having children, as well as anti-marriage and anti-childbearing values, inciting gender conflict, and amplifying fears surrounding marriage and anxiety about childbirth. Authorities will investigate and penalise platforms that continue to display violations, although specific punishment methods have not been disclosed.

This marks the first instance in which the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has identified narratives surrounding marriage and childbearing values as a key target for rectification, leading to discussions and backlash among some netizens on Chinese social media. Many users pointed out that issues like corruption, food safety, telecom fraud, campus bullying, and environmental protection are not necessarily addressed immediately, yet a private message or a single image from an ordinary person has become a focal point for governance.

In analysing the reasons behind this initiative by the authorities, many netizens have offered astute insights. They noted that in a dictatorial and authoritarian society, coercive power extends beyond the public sphere, even intruding into individual thoughts and perceptions.

The slogan from the grassroots government of the Communist Party of China. (Internet image)

The government’s lack of credibility results in ineffective policies.

The context for the new round of internet rectification actions by the Communist Party of China is the increasingly severe population crisis in China. In recent years, the birth rate on the mainland has been in continuous decline. By 2025, the number of births in China is projected to fall to 7.92 million, a decrease of 1.62 million from 9.54 million in 2024, dipping below the 8 million threshold and reaching a new low since 1949, with the newborn population reverting to levels seen during the Qianlong era. Despite the Communist Party's previous efforts to implement policies such as childbirth subsidies and extended maternity leave, today's youth are less inclined to heed government calls and are more discerning, leading to minimal effectiveness of the Communist Party's policies.

In March 2025, the National Health Commission initiated a special plan for the '2025 Population High-Quality Development Research,' mandating local governments nationwide to study and enhance population development strategies from March to October. The goal is to promote high-quality population development, refine fertility policies, and foster a fertility-friendly social environment. Various local governments have also rolled out related measures. For instance, Zhejiang Province plans to offer 'one-stop' fertility support for young people. Hohhot City in Inner Mongolia has raised fertility subsidies, providing up to 100,000 yuan for families having a third child. Dalian has reinforced its maternity leave system, while Ningxia has extended marriage leave from 10 days to 13 days, increased maternity leave to 60 days, and granted 10 days of parental leave for parents of children aged 0 to 3 years.

Nevertheless, last year saw a decline of 1.62 million in the number of newborns compared to the previous year, indicating that these policies have not been effective.

A significant number of young netizens express scepticism towards these marriage and childbirth policies, arguing that local governments are financially constrained and unlikely to provide genuine long-term fertility subsidies. If you do have a second or third child and then seek subsidies, what recourse do you have if the government denies you?

28-year-old Xiao Qin stated to Radio Free Asia: 'The credibility of the Communist Party has long been in ruins. We are just small leeks; it is impossible for them to give us, who are already tightly managed, 100,000 yuan just for having a child.'

Many young netizens assert that the so-called incentive measures are merely 'small favours' that fail to address the high cost of living and the challenges young people face in starting families.

Life lacks freedom, and they do not wish for the next generation to repeat the same mistakes.

Beyond economic pressures, many young internet users feel that life under the oppressive dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party lacks freedom, leaving no room for even a shift in thought. This has caused them to lose hope for the future. Who would want their children to live as they have, spending their lives in a big prison? Everyone is unhappy, lacking the motivation and reasons to have children, and they do not wish for the next generation to repeat their mistakes.

Renowned Chinese singer Li Jian, who is over 50 years old, has been married for more than 20 years without having children. In a recent interview, the host raised this topic, and Li Jian openly stated: 'There are many issues in today's society, and I don't want my child to be born only to endure the same hardships I faced.'

Xiao Qin expressed: 'We live in a country where we lack even basic human rights, yet we are powerless to change our situation. We focus on ourselves; we choose not to marry and not to have children. Because if we were to marry and have children, it would be a frightening prospect for that child to grow up in a country devoid of basic human rights, just like us.'

Young internet user Jerry expressed to Radio Free Asia that the government is promoting childbirth among the youth through political campaigns, completely ignoring individual preferences, which he finds absurd and unsettling: 'The Chinese Communist Party wants to control everything—from the universe to women's wombs, dictating your reproductive choices and your romantic relationships. They don't see people as human beings; they see them as tools. When they perceive an excess population and insufficient productivity, they implement family planning to reduce the population. Now, when there is a shortage of labour, they want the population to grow, treating people merely as data.'

As mobile internet and social media have developed, young people who struggle to marry or are afraid to have children in real life often seek solidarity online. Posts proclaiming 'marriage is a death sentence, having children leads to bankruptcy' are prevalent across the internet. Some of these posts connect marriage and parenting with economic pressures and family responsibilities, reflecting the real-life challenges faced by certain young demographics.

The Chinese Communist Party officially categorises these genuine survival pressures as 'spreading negative energy,' claiming that such content 'creates a rhythm' and intentionally stirs up fears surrounding marriage and childbirth.

Some have sharply pointed out that the government's introduction of these new regulations will directly contribute to a deeper decline in birth rates in China.

Netizens have pointed out that, in addition to issues like housing prices, education, and the phenomenon of 'involution', even invitations for courtship and adhering to the rites of Zhou Gong now carry legal risks. In such a stringent system, how can we encourage people to have a third child? The question of whether even one child can be successfully raised is already in doubt. Some netizens have stated that if your content makes people 'feel bad' or 'disinterested in marriage', it could be interpreted as committing a serious offence of 'interfering with the national population plan'.

Simultaneously, major internet platforms (such as Douyin, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, etc.) are under tremendous pressure, compelled to serve as 'emotional gatekeepers', vigilantly guarding against various 'negative narratives'. With a single directive from the Communist Party, the Chinese internet becomes highly reactive, creating an atmosphere of fear. Under such significant psychological strain, young people are increasingly disinterested in dating, marriage, and raising the next generation.

(First published by People News) △