China's Demographic Challenge Requires an Integrated Coping Strategy

China has entered into a new stage of demographic dynamics whereby population-related challenges are more complicated than ever before. The current one-child policy should be modified. However, the anticipated impacts of such a policy change should not be over-exaggerated. China's demographic challenge requires an integrated coping strategy. Changing the one-child policy may help China to solve some population-related challenges, but cannot reverse the general demographic trends. Furthermore, there are uncertainties about how the public will respond to policy changes. Socioeconomic factors have played a crucial role in determining Chinese couples' fertility behaviors. This momentum will continue and, to some extent, changes to the one-child policy may be a symbolic one. More integrated social policies should be designed and implemented at the same time as a more effective means for China to tackle future development challenges, including population problems. (Contains 1 figure and 7 footnotes.)