China Taxes Contraceptives to Boost Births; Public Health Worries Mount

• China will impose a 13% Value-Added Tax (VAT) on contraceptive drugs and products starting January 1.
• This move aims to encourage higher birth rates in China, reversing decades of population control policies.
• Experts warn the tax could lead to increased unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and abortions due to higher costs for contraceptives.
• The policy has drawn ridicule on social media and concerns from experts who doubt its effectiveness in boosting fertility.
• China's birth rate has significantly declined, with 9.5 million babies born in 2024, down from 14.7 million in 2019, and deaths now outpacing births.

Why It Matters: China's contraceptive tax risks public health and reproductive freedom.