Abstract The choice between population reduction or stable population is a critical issue to China. There are two interpretations of the basic national policy—"population control." Basically completed theory advocating stable population is based on the idea that "excessive population growth" has been effectively curbed and is supported by the population-environment equilibrium theory, "zero growth-sustainable population theory," "the pressure of constant population - disappeared theory" and the "demographic winter theory." Basically completed theory is not only untenable but actually harmful—"the constant population - pressure disappears" contributes to misleading results of statistical analysis; "zero growth-sustainable population theory" puts the Chinese nation in a very precarious position; "aging is not the decline of the demographic winter" on the fear syndrome is confusing and misleading; reasonable age structure will generate a "fallacy of composition", and will bring disaster to the country and biosphere. "Far from being completed "emphasizes "population reduction" as the main population development strategy for China. First, land capacity is inversely associated with ecological-environmental stability; a population supported by land productivity does not guarantee continuous equilibrium with the environment. Second, the main issue is scale rather than "equilibrium.” The lengths of stable and continuous (exponentially decreasing or increasing) Systems with different sizes of population (1.5 billion or 200 million) are not the same. Third, the size of the population problem has neither economic, system solution, there was no time to save the nature and dissipation point, matter, energy savings technology solutions-technology "ceiling effect," will enable the technology to solve the "stuck" scale quagmire evolved into the "trap" and "black hole." Fourth, a small population and expansive land is what makes the USA such a dominant world power. Russia’s rise, in addition to its huge amount of oil and gas, can also be attributed to its small population. Fifth, a large scale population not only constitutes the biggest food security challenge for China and presents a persistent threat, but it also reduces the flexibility of the world grain markets to adjust the economic structure. Sixth, “two different choices, two different destinies.” Maintaining a "stable population" of 1.5 billion people is certain to bog China down and may result in the demise of the nation. However, a small-scale population that exhibits the advantages of a smaller demographic base will fundamentally change the basic national conditions of a China plagued by a large population but a weak economic foundation. It would help to ensure food security, increase options and flexibility, and would allow for sustainable development.
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