Peng Peiyun’s Death Sparks Renewed Anger Over China’s One-Child Policy

Peng Peiyun died on December 21 in Beijing. She was the top official who enforced China’s one-child policy for many years. Her death has set off a new wave of anger online. Many people say the policy caused deep pain across the country. The main keyword is Peng Peiyun.

The policy began in 1980 and ended in 2015. It was meant to slow population growth. But it left lasting harm for many families. Many users on Chinese social media said her death brought back memories of fear and loss.

Peng Peiyun and the One-Child Policy Legacy

Peng Peiyun was a senior leader in China’s population program. According to Reuters, she held major roles from the early years of the policy. The government praised her as an important figure. But public reaction has been very different.

Many people say she oversaw harsh rules. They say these rules led to forced abortions and sterilisations. They also say many women suffered abuse. Short posts on platforms like Weibo show strong emotions. Some users called her actions cruel. Others spoke about babies lost under the policy.

China ended the one-child rule in 2015. It later allowed two children. It expanded to three children in 2021. These changes came as the population dropped. China fell behind India in 2023 as the world’s most populous nation. The population is now shrinking faster, with long-term concerns ahead.

For many Chinese citizens, the policy changed their lives forever. Some say it shaped families for generations. Many still do not talk about what they lived through. Peng’s death brought these private memories back into the open.

How Peng Peiyun’s Death Reopened Old Wounds

Online anger grew quickly after her death. Many posts said the policy caused deep trauma. Some users said it shattered families. Others blamed the state for millions of abortions. Reports by BBC and AP have documented these claims for years.

People also raised concerns about missing baby girls. This followed reports of sex-selective abortions. A CNN report said many girls “disappeared” during those years. Rural areas saw the hardest impact. Some families faced fines or threats. Others lost children or were forced into procedures.

Peng Peiyun once called the job “the hardest under heaven.” Later, in 2010, she said the policy should be eased. But her late change did not calm today’s online backlash. Her passing has become a moment for many to speak out. It shows how strongly the policy still shapes national memory.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Who was Peng Peiyun?

She was a Chinese official who led population policy work for many years. She played a major role in enforcing the one-child rule. Her decisions shaped the lives of millions.

Q2: Why is her death causing anger?

Many people say the policy caused harm. They link her leadership to forced procedures and trauma. Her death reopened these memories.

Q3: When did China end the one-child policy?

China ended it in 2015. It moved to a two-child rule and later a three-child rule. This shift came after the population began to shrink.

Q4: How did the policy affect families?

Many families faced pressure, fines, or harsh treatment. Women in rural areas were often forced into procedures. Many say the impact still lasts today.

Q5: Why is China worried about its population now?

Birth rates have dropped. The population is aging fast. This creates long-term economic and social problems.