The death of Peng Peiyun, former head of China's Family Planning Commission, has sparked widespread criticism on social media, overshadowing official praise. While state media lauded her as an "outstanding leader," Chinese social media users condemned the one-child policy she enforced from 1988-1998. Many blamed the policy for forced abortions, sterilizations, and a demographic slowdown, with some lamenting lost lives and gender imbalances. China's population has been declining, falling behind India's in 2023.