[Cowperson]

The world's most populous nation, which has built its economic strength on seemingly endless supplies of cheap labor, China may soon face manpower shortages.

An aging population also poses difficult political issues for the Communist government, which first encouraged a population explosion in the 1950's and then reversed course and introduced the so-called one-child policy a few years after the death of Mao in 1976.

That measure has spared the country an estimated 390 million births but may ultimately prove to be another monumental demographic mistake.

With China's breathtaking rise toward affluence, most people live longer and have fewer children, mirroring trends seen around the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/30/wo...rtner=homepage

Cowperson