Vietnam scraps two-child limit as birth rate declines
Historical context
The two-child policy was implemented in 1988, but now the size of a family will be determined by each individual couple, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Over the last three years, Vietnam has experienced historically low birth rates, with the total fertility rate dropping to 1.91 children per woman in 2024, which is below the replacement level.
Declining birth rates
Birth rates have steadily decreased from 2.11 children per woman in 2021 to 2.01 in 2022, and further to 1.96 in 2023. This downward trend is particularly evident in urbanized and economically developed areas, notably in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where the rising cost of living has made raising children increasingly challenging.
Changing perspectives on family planning
Tran Minh Huong, a 22-year-old office worker, expressed her indifference toward the government's regulation, stating that she has no plans to have children. "Even though I am an Asian, with social norms that say women need to get married and have kids, it's too costly to raise a child," she remarked.
Challenges to population growth
Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Lien Huong highlighted the growing difficulty of encouraging families to have more children, despite policy adjustments and public campaigns. She noted that the declining birth rate poses threats to long-term socio-economic development, including issues related to an ageing population and workforce shortages. Huong urged a shift in societal mindset from merely focusing on family planning to a broader understanding of population and development.
Addressing sex imbalance
Vietnam is also facing challenges related to sex imbalances due to a historic preference for boys. Recently, the Ministry of Health proposed tripling the current fine for fetal gender selection to $3,800, as reported by state media. It remains illegal to inform parents of the sex of their baby before birth or to perform abortions for sex-selection reasons, with penalties imposed on clinics that violate the law. The sex ratio at birth, while improving, continues to be skewed, currently at 112 boys for every 100 girls.
Public sentiment
Hoang Thi Oanh, a 45-year-old mother of three, shared her experience under the two-child policy, noting that she received fewer benefits after the birth of her youngest child. "It's good that at last the authorities removed this ban," she stated, but added, "raising more than two kids nowadays is too hard and costly." She believes that only financially stable couples would consider having more than two children, suggesting that the authorities may need to offer incentives to encourage larger families.
Regional comparisons
Vietnam's neighbor, China, ended its own strict "one-child policy" in 2016 and allowed couples to have three children beginning in 2021. However, similar to Vietnam, the soaring cost of living in China has negatively impacted birth rates, leading to a demographic decline, with its population falling for the third consecutive year in 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
18 hours ago
- Gulf Today
How big of a threat is Asian superpower China really?
Daniel DePetris, Tribune News Service Last June, during an annual security conference in East Asia, then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underscored that the United States was not seeking conflict with China. Maintaining a consistent dialogue with Beijing, he hinted, was just as vital to effective deterrence as ensuring the US military was fully equipped and prepared. Fast-forward a year later and the message from Washington is far different. Unlike his predecessor, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth name-dropped China in his speech to the same security conference multiple times, as if to shame the Asian superpower for running roughshod over the so-called rules-based international order. China, Hegseth warned, was trying to become a hegemon in Asia, where it could dominate its neighbours, exploit the South China Sea's vast natural resources and coerce other countries into accepting Beijing's demands. In Hegseth's words, 'It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.' An invasion of Taiwan, he added, could be 'imminent.' If this all sounds scary, that's because it is. His comments raise the rhetorical gamesmanship to a level US officials weren't comfortable with in the past. The Biden administration was no slouch on China policy, but it still didn't want to inflame things unnecessarily. The Pentagon, for instance, repeatedly emphasized that while China's military drills around Taiwan were aggressive and designed to wear down the island's will to resist, a conflict in the Taiwan Strait was 'neither imminent nor inevitable.' In other words, there was still an opportunity to defuse any tensions before they exploded into a war that could drag the United States in, kill tens of thousands of people and throw a heavy wrench into the global economy. The Trump administration, however, has deployed noticeably sharper words during its first four months. Although the fundamentals of its wider policy in East Asia mimic the Biden administration's own — reinforcing US alliances; engaging in regular freedom of navigation exercises with Japan and the Philippines; and stressing the utility of preserving the status quo in the Taiwan Strait — Trump's advisers aren't afraid of poking Beijing in the eye. If managing the systemic rivalry with Beijing was a core component of Washington's overall strategy throughout Biden's four years, it increasingly looks like the guardrails that were put in place to prevent miscalculations are now eroding. Even so, does the Trump administration have a point? Is a conflict over Taiwan imminent as Hegseth suggests? And how real is the risk of China becoming Asia's hegemon? First, we should acknowledge that China is a threat in certain respects, particularly to its neighbors who have competing jurisdictional claims. The People's Liberation Army, or PLA, is arguably the strongest military in the region today, a consequence of Chinese President Xi Jinping's long-standing policy of pouring money into its coffers to fund a large-scale modernization campaign. China spent $314 billion on defense in 2024, a 7% increase from the year prior and a whopping 59% increase from a decade ago. The PLA boasts the largest ballistic missile arsenal in Asia and continues to invest in hypersonic missiles, which are difficult for conventional air defenses to intercept. The PLA is also throwing out the old rulebook that used to govern affairs in East Asia. As I mentioned last week, the median line that once served as an unofficial boundary separating Chinese and Taiwanese airspace is now imaginary as the Chinese air force flies closer to the self-ruled island to test Taiwan's defenses and wear down morale. Yet the United States would be wise to refrain from overestimating China's military capability and underestimating the capability of its allies like Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia — all of whom have an even greater interest in preventing Chinese hegemony in Asia than Washington does. China is its own worst enemy in this regard: The more it presses its territorial claims, the more incentive its neighbors have to balance Beijing. For the most part, this is exactly what China's neighbours are doing. Japan is the most obvious case study. Traditionally a pacifist country that kept to an artificially low defense budget relative to its wealth, Japan has spent the last three years adding resources to its so-called Self-Defense Forces and buying American weapons off the shelf. Tokyo's latest national security strategy, unveiled in 2022, was a sea-change in how Japan typically talks about its security environment. In that document, China was called out for challenging the international order, partnering with Russia in its war against Ukraine and trying to change the region's status quo by force. Japan's defense budget is set to double by 2027, and with more resources comes a greater capability to preserve the balance of power. The Philippines is another example. While the country can't possibly compete with China in conventional terms, the Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has effectively given up on rapprochement with Beijing and thrown in its lot with Washington. China's incessant clashes with Philippine forces in the South China Sea have served as a wake-up call to a country whose previous administration under Rodrigo Duterte (who is now in custody at the Hague for war crimes) drifted into the Chinese camp and took a more suspicious view of US intentions. Today, Manila is not only buttressing its navy and coast guard but also increasingly partnering with countries like Japan and Australia who have a similar threat perception about China.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
South Sudan: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Ministry of Health launch newly constructed neonatal ward at Aweil State Hospital to improve care for sick newborns and premature babies
Seeking to improve access to medical care for sick, low birth weight, and premature babies in South Sudan's Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and South Sudan's Ministry of Health on 4 June 2025 opened a newly-built 40-bed neonatal inpatient ward at Aweil State Hospital. The new structure replaces the former 33-bed neonatal ward, which was frequently overcrowded with over 45 babies admitted at once and lacked enough room for critical care like resuscitation. "We had a neonatal ward, but it was always full or over its capacity," says Denis Mbae, MSF project coordinator for Aweil. "This new building, which is also closer to the maternity ward, will limit the distance that mothers have to walk to breastfeed their babies, while holding better equipment and amenities. "The new ward has increased capacity and improved design, with necessary space for incubators and life-support equipment to better support vulnerable infants whose vital organs may not be fully developed. Mothers will also have dedicated space for Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), promoting skin-to-skin contact vital for low-birth-weight infants, which has proven to help improve health outcomes of babies in this condition. This specialized unit, the only one of its kind in the state, offers spacious environments designed for infection prevention, improved monitoring, and better working conditions for staff. The building will also provide a space for neonates under one roof, allowing for better follow-up and monitoring. MSF has supported Aweil State Hospital since 2008, providing paediatric and maternity services in a region where many people face challenges accessing timely care due to limited peripheral health services and difficulty in finding proper transportation. In 2024, MSF assisted in delivery of 7,664 babies at Aweil State Hospital. The upgrade reinforces MSF's commitment to enhancing access to health care for better outcomes for vulnerable families in South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
Middle East Eye
2 days ago
- Middle East Eye
Arab states received 12 percent of Israeli arms exports in 2024 amid surge in arms sales
Israel's Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that arms exports by Israeli companies reached an all-time high in 2024, totalling $14.8bn. 'The unprecedented operational achievements, combined with the combat experience gained through Israeli-developed technologies during the war, have generated significant demand for Israeli defence systems among numerous countries,' the ministry stated, attributing the surge in exports to the ongoing military offensive on Gaza, which began in October 2023. According to TheMarker, arms exports rose by 13 percent compared to 2023, when exports stood at $13.1 billion. The 2024 figure represents roughly 10 percent of Israel's total exports of goods and services, according to data published by the outlet. This marks a record year for Israeli arms exports, which have more than doubled over the past five years; in 2019, total exports amounted to $7.3bn. Europe emerged as the primary destination for Israeli arms, accounting for 54 percent of total purchases – up nearly 20 percentage points from 2023, when European countries made up 35 percent of Israel's arms export market. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In 2024, European states bought nearly $8bn worth of Israeli military products, compared to $4.6bn in 2023, according to the Ministry of Defence. Beyond Europe, another significant destination for Israeli arms in 2024 was the group of countries that normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Combined arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan reached $1.8bn – equivalent to 12 percent of Israel's total arms exports. In contrast, there has been a marked decline in exports to Asian and Latin American countries. In 2024, Asian nations purchased $3.4bn worth of Israeli weapons, down from $6.3bn the previous year. According to TheMarker, the drop is attributed to major arms deals signed in 2023 with India and Azerbaijan that were not repeated in 2024. The surge in arms exports comes amid Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, now approaching its 20th month, which has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians and destroyed most of the Palestinian enclave. In recent months, Israel has faced mounting international criticism – particularly from European partners – over Gaza, including allegations of using starvation as a weapon of war and of committing genocide. Israel opposition leader says Netanyahu arming 'equivalent of Isis' gangs in Gaza Read More » A recent survey conducted in the UK found that a majority of the British public supports a full arms embargo on Israel. According to the poll, 57 percent of respondents backed a government-imposed embargo, while only 13 percent were opposed. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Spanish government had cancelled a $327m arms deal with Israeli defence company Rafael. The contract involved the purchase of offensive weaponry, including 168 firing posts and 1,680 anti-tank missiles. Yair Coles, head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate, the Ministry of Defence division overseeing Israeli arms exports, told Israeli news outlet Ynet: 'We are facing a serious challenge. Members of parliament are openly calling for a halt to arms purchases from Israel because of the images coming out of Gaza, and this is having an effect. Today, customers are telling us this directly.' Coles added: 'Sales to France and the UK are very low. Two forces are currently at work: military establishments that want to buy the best equipment from us, and political forces holding back. I hope that necessity will prevail over politics.' A national achievement According to defence ministry data, nearly half (48 percent) of Israel's arms exports consist of air defence systems, missiles and rockets. Other categories, including military and armoured vehicles, radar systems, manned aircraft and satellites, each account for between 8 and 9 percent of total exports. Israeli human rights lawyer and arms trade monitor Eitay Mack told TheMarker that Israeli arms exports could rise further in 2025. 'Due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, we may see a spike in arms deals with India,' Mack said. 'Additionally, the effects of the increased security budgets in Europe – driven by shifting relations with the United States – will likely be felt only in 2025.' 'The world sees Israel's strength and wants to be part of it' - Israel Katz, Defence Minister However, Mack cautioned that some countries may shift away from Israeli weapons in favour of American arms as part of efforts to improve trade balances with the United States. 'In the context of the tariff war declared by [US President Donald] Trump, some countries may prefer to buy from the US rather than from Israel,' he added. Defence Minister Israel Katz praised the export figures, calling them a national achievement. 'In a year of war, under complex and difficult conditions, Israel has broken its all-time arms export record,' Katz said. He attributed the success to Israel's battlefield performance: 'This is a direct result of the IDF's and defence industries' achievements against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the Ayatollahs' regime in Iran, and other enemies.' Katz added, 'The world sees Israel's strength and wants to be part of it.' Defence Ministry Director General Amir Baram echoed the sentiment. 'Israeli arms exports reflect, more than anything, a growing global appreciation for Israeli technology. Our systems have made a resounding impact across the Middle East over the past year,' he said. Coles also credited the collaboration between the defence sector and the military. 'The unique link between Israeli arms companies, the Ministry of Defence, and the IDF creates a distinct competitive edge in global markets,' he said. According to Coles, during the war in Gaza, Israel's defence industries demonstrated that they could 'meet the IDF's operational needs while simultaneously responding to growing international demand'.
