This report pertains to China's recent decision to remove tax exemptions on contraceptives. With the specific timeframe not mentioned in the headline, it seems the policy shift is either imminent or freshly implemented. The reasoning behind this move could potentially be tied to China's recent relaxations of its strict birth policies, as the country will need to deal with an aging population and a decreasing working-age populace. The impact this could have on the country's healthcare sector and societal attitudes towards contraception is yet to be measured.

In Japan, where the declining birth rate has been a pressing issue for years, such a policy would likely face significant backlash. The Japanese government has historically taken steps to encourage family growth, such as generous parental leave policies and subsidies for child care. The idea of penalizing contraceptive use by removing tax exemptions would likely be seen as an attempt to manipulate personal freedoms.

In the US or the EU, taxation on contraceptives has often been a controversial issue tied to birth control rights and women's healthcare. While some states in the US do tax contraceptives, others do not, with varying levels of controversy. In contrast, the EU largely exempts contraceptives from value-added tax (VAT), framing it as a measure of healthcare accessibility. A move to eliminate such a tax exemption would likely spark intense debate.