Declining birthrate a cause for concern

Nation nears a 'low fertility trap' that may cause labor shortage, expert says

Experts are calling for an accelerated scrapping of the one-child policy as the nation's birthrate moves toward a dangerously low level.

The fertility rate in China is now 1.4 children per woman, almost touching the warning line of 1.3 that is recognized globally as the "low fertility trap", according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on Monday.