No haste on free condoms on campus

THE HEALTH AND family planning commission of Zhejiang province, East China, plans to install vending machines for condoms in the 128 colleges in the province, which has provoked a heated online debate. The People's Daily carried the following comments on Thursday:

The plan to provide free contraceptives for college students is a sign of the huge progress Chinese society has made. But although the provincial family planning commission is trying to raise awareness of safe sex, it is still a little hasty perhaps to install condom vending machines on campuses.

Despite the Chinese public being less conservative than before, it is beyond what many could accept. And some may view such a practice as an acquiescing to and encouraging premarital sex between students, which means the colleges and authorities can expect complaints and criticism from some.