Chinese Regime Lifts Poverty Line Closer to World Standard

China now has more poor people on its record despite its flourishing economy. On Tuesday, the Chinese regime lifted its poverty standard up to about one US dollar—almost twice the old figure.

The increase classifies everyone who earns $360 or less per year as “officially poor.”

It means 128-million Chinese, especially those in the rural and remote regions, will be reclassified as poor. This is a 100-million increase from the 28-million under the old poverty standard.

State-run newspaper China Daily cited Renmin University rural development expert Wang Sangui saying, "The previous poverty line underestimated the number of poor people in rural China."

Wang said, "Only 2.8-percent of the rural population was officially considered poor” under the old standard.

So the revised standard shows a more accurate number of poor people in China—and closer to the worldwide standard. But it’s still below the World Bank threshold with people making $1.25 a day.

The Associated Press reported that China experts from the World Bank had collectively pushed the Chinese regime to lift its poverty standard.

The revised standard means more Chinese will be eligible for assistance. According to China Daily, the poverty aid fund will also increase by over 20 percent to more than four billion dollars.