China's Population Decline Raises Questions About One-Child Policy's Impact

China's population has declined for four consecutive years, with the birth rate reaching its lowest since 1949. The one-child policy, implemented in 1980 to curb rapid population growth, involved strict measures including forced abortions and sterilizations. Experts now question its necessity, noting that demographic shifts and economic changes may have reduced birth rates independently. Despite ending the policy in 2015, concerns persist about the impact of an aging population and shrinking workforce on China's future development.