Taking care of the aged is a huge expense for families. Before China improves its social care system for the elderly, the reform of its family planning polices will win substantial support from all sides, an article in Beijing News Daily says. Excerpts:

China has sent a clear message that it will adhere to its family planning policy for a long time. This is regarded as a response to the increasing calls from society to abolish the policy, which has been in place in China for more than 30 years.

The controversial policy has helped the nation effectively control its population growth over the past 30 years. Yet, as the only-child generation enters adulthood, each couple will have to take care of two sets of elderly parents in addition to their own children.

Despite the progress China has made in establishing a national pension and medical insurance net, most elderly Chinese are still cared for at home by their family members, because of the lack of nursing homes for senior citizens.

Surplus labor has become a thing of the past in China, and it is advisable for the authorities to choose the right time to reform the family planning policy. This reform is not only related to the population, but also the country's economic growth model transformation and social management.

It is absolutely right to carry out the reform prudently. But to be prudent and cautious does not mean reform should be postponed. On the contrary, the authority should carefully study the timing and means of reform.