A wealthy couple in Zhejiang province, who violated the family planning policy, has been fined 1.3 million yuan ($203,970). But it is necessary to reflect on why such large fines aren't effective, says an article on sichuanonline.com.cn. Excerpts:

Family planning is a basic national policy in the country, and while the huge fine suggests that local authorities do implement the policy forcefully, it is also a worrying signal that the policy is just an empty shell to rich people.

For example, there have been 10 similar cases in the city of Wenzhou, in which rich couples who gave birth to more than one child were fined with 1 million yuan and above as social maintenance fees.

This has raised controversy, as, while the authorities claim they impose these huge fines on the rich as part of the family planning policy, some suggest the fines have become a source of income for the local government. Certainly the rich seem willing to pay the fines, as one million yuan is only a trivial amount to them.

Statistics show the number of cases involving such violations of the family planning policy in Wenzhou, which has a high density of rich people, account for half the total number in Zhejiang province.

In a word, it is a loophole in the implementation of the family planning policy and it needs to be repaired. Imposing fine is a deterrent rather than a goal.

(China Daily 06/05/2012 page9)