A Chinese law requiring family members to visit their aging parents went into effect July 1, but was met with mixed reactions from youth.

The law stipulates that family members who live separately from their elderly parents should visit the elders on a regular basis, or risk being sued.

In addition, the law requires family members to care for aging parents emotionally, and should not ignore or snub them, according to China.org.

Statistics show that by the end of 2011, senior citizens above 60 totaled 185 million in China, 13.7 percent of the total. Some estimate the number may exceed 200 million by the end of 2013, and 300 million by 2025.

As the aging population continues to increase, China faces many serious challenges ahead. Apart from the massive demand of healthcare and social welfare, the “empty nest” phenomenon -- a term to describe aged parents living alone due to their children working in other parts of China -- highlights the departure of traditional values in which children honor and care about the old.

Culturally, the elderly are highly respected in China, and it is an ironclad obligation on the part of children to support the elderly in Chinese tradition. As reflected in what Confucius once famously said,”when your parents are still alive, you should not go on a long journey; if you have to do so, you must have reasonable reasons.”

But such values have dramatically changed as the country becomes more modern. Since reform and opening-up launched in the 1980s, millions of people have begun to work in relatively affluent towns and cities, leaving their kids and parents at home.

Sadly enough, those migrant workers have little chance to visit those they left behind due to the arduous tasks in offices and modern assembly lines, as well as overcrowded trains and coaches bound for their hometowns during the holidays.

While some Internet users praised the law for its attempt to raise the public awareness of the emotional support for the elderly, many lament that it is pathetic when the government has to make laws to bring the family closer, doubting whether the law could be effectively carried out because the details have yet to be worked out.

For example, the law doesn’t specify how often visits are required and how the measures will be enforced if the children are brought to court by their parents.

“The law asks the children to visit their parents regularly, but what about migrant workers from rural areas. Many of them have not gone back home for years, is it illegal? Plus, what if they cannot get train tickets to return home before Spring Festival?” asked Sina Weibo user 士今再来.

“I support the law. It tells us to spend more time with parents to show emotional support for them. We want to do so, but the question is we have so few holidays,” said Lily呼吸ing.

“We have to make sure the companies will grant our leave and make it easier to buy tickers during the holidays,” said another user.

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