China has enforced a one-child policy since the late 1970s
A British academic has written that powerful financial and personal incentives for local officials will ensure forced abortions continue in mainland China.
Dr Jackie Sheehan, associate professor of Nottingham University's School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, said: "Coercion and violence are integral parts of the system ... Officials lose points for every out-of-quota birth in their area and earn cash bonuses for every abortion and sterilisation they enforce ... [D]esperate officials resort to forced abortions and sterilisations." [South China Morning Post, 25 July]
Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's communications manager, commented: "Dr Sheehan's analysis gives the lie to the claim by Western governments and the worldwide abortion lobby that the one-child policy is not intrinsically abusive and is capable of reform."
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