WOMEN in Jiangxi Province who are at least 14 weeks pregnant now need to show medical evidence and receive government approval before getting an abortion, a policy the provincial authorities see as a measure that can help balance the sex ratio and protect unborn girls.

Jiangxi’s Health and Family Planning Commission issued a notice on its website recently that women who have been pregnant for 14 weeks and above and who wish to have abortions must have signed approvals by three medical professionals confirming that the operations are medically necessary.

The rule sparked debate among Chinese netizens, with some saying that it has crossed the line between government power and private rights, and that it infringes upon women’s freedom of choice.

Responding to the public attention, an unnamed official from the commission told Jiangxi Daily on Friday that this is not a new practice. It has been in place for a long time as part of the province’s efforts to regulate newborns’ sex ratio, the official said.

“Promoting equality between the sexes is one of our fundamental national policies. However, fetal sex identification or selective abortions that have no appropriate medical reason have been leading to a long-term sex ratio imbalance that will consequently compromise the sustainable development of the population and stability of society,” the newspaper quoted the official as saying.

In addition, some people in the province want to have boys based on outdated notions that male heirs will support them in old age and carry on the family line, the official said.

(China Daily)