China vows to prohibit late-term abortions

Late-term abortions in order to enforce China's family planning policy, where women undergo an induced abortion after they have been pregnant for 14-28 weeks, are to be forbidden in China, said a spokesperson from the Chinese health authority Tuesday.

Brutal enforcement of the family planning policy and forced late-term abortions are strictly prohibited in China, said Mao Qun'an, spokesperson of the China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, at a press conference yesterday.

The commission will deal with forced late-term cases very seriously, Mao said.

Mao also said the commission is preparing for a relaxation of the country's family planning policy, which will allow couples to have two children if at least one parent is an only child.