On an official trip to China, Vice President Biden said he “fully understood” and was not “second-guessing” the country’s one-child policy that has led to forced abortions, sterilizations, and other human rights violations. Biden’s comments have set off a firestorm of criticism from politicians and several 2012 GOP candidates.
Biden was in China earlier this month to help restore faith in the financial image of the United States after its credit rating was downgraded for the first time ever. In prepared remarks regarding entitlement programs, Biden said, “Your policy has been one which I fully understand – I’m not second guessing – of one child per family. The result being that you’re in a position where one wage earner will be taking care of four retired people. Not sustainable. ”
While it is true that Biden addressed the demographic concerns behind the One Child Policy, his statement completely ignored the human rights abuses that have resulted from the policy. Besides the forced abortions and sterilizations, women have faced fines, imprisonment, losing their jobs, losing government benefits, and beatings for not following the policy. The One Child Policy has also led to one of the largest gendercide movements of modern history, as girls are seen as inferior to boys and aborted or left to die after birth. The fact that Biden failed to criticize the policy has angered several politicians and Pro-Life organizations.
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), head of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and chairman of the Executive-Congressional Commission on China, released the following statement, “The Vice President said he ‘fully understood’ the one child policy, and therefore he’s not ‘second guessing.’ The one child per couple policy is cruel, inhumane and the most egregious systematic attack on women ever. For the Vice President to publically state that he fully understands the one child policy is unconscionable.”
Presidential hopeful and Texas Governor Rick Perry released the following statement, “Vice President Biden’s refusal to ‘second-guess’ this horrendous policy demonstrates great moral indifference on the part of the Obama Administration. Americans value life, and we deserve leaders who will stand up against such inhumanity, not cast a blind eye.”
Kendra Barkoff, a spokeswoman for Vice President Biden, argues that Biden’s comments are an inaccurate portrayal of his beliefs. Barkoff sent an email to The Daily Caller which explained, “The Obama Administration strongly opposes all aspects of China’s coercive birth limitation policies, including forced abortion and sterilization. The Vice President believes such practices are repugnant.” Barkoff explained, “He also pointed out, in China, that the policy is, as a practical matter, unsustainable. He was arguing against the One Child Policy to a Chinese audience.”
Despite the location of his comments, Vice President Biden could have criticized the atrocities and human abuses that have befallen millions of Chinese women under this policy. Pro-Life activists and organizations know that Biden is pro-abortion, but his refusal to speak up against the horrendous violation of human rights under China’s One Child Policy is still sending shockwaves throughout the Life movement.
