why young chinese are 'lying flat'

Young Chinese do not want to have children:

Frustrated by increasingly iron-fisted government policies during the Covid lockdowns, young Chinese people have adopted an apathetic “lying flat” philosophy, which encourages a rejection of high-pressure jobs. In their 20s and 30s, many resist doing what is expected of them and instead settle for a low-desire life or move abroad. Having children is the last thing on their minds. An online survey last year of more than 20,000 people, mostly urban women between 18 and 25, found that two-thirds have a “low birth desire”. 

‘The last generation’: the young Chinese people vowing not to have children | China | The Guardian

Over the Chinese New Year, there were jokes about 'lying low': Lunar New Year: why a skit about lying-flat cadres is China’s Spring Festival gala hit | South China Morning Post

So, what is 'lying flat'?

The ‘lying flat’ or tang ping movement is a phenomenon that emerged in China in 2021. It describes the generations born in the late 1990s and 2000s who, disappointed by their lack of social mobility and economic stagnation, have decided not to ‘not strive for their futures’. They do not want to follow the values of hard work, home ownership, marriage or living standards sought after by past generations.

China’s young ‘lie flat’ under social challenges | East Asia Forum

Here's a good piece from the BBC: 'Lying flat': Why some Chinese are putting work second - BBC News

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