China has passed a new law that says people must visit their older relatives. This means older parents or grandparents can sue their kids and grandkids for not visiting them. The new law will start on July 1, 2013. It is part of a new campaign called the Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly. China says it is so the country's aging population is not left alone. There have been many stories recently in China's newspapers of old people dying alone because their children do not visit them. More than half of China's elderly live alone. Even though the law says children have to visit their older relatives "often," it does not say how often "often" is. It also does not say how much the fine is for not visiting often.

China is becoming an aging society because of its one child per family policy. In 1978, the Chinese government told all couples they could have only one child. Some families could have two or more, such as those living in the countryside, ethnic minorities, or people who had twins. The Xinhua news agency said that at the end of 2011, almost 14 per cent of China's population was over 60 years old. That's more than 184 million people. This number is increasing because of China's rapid economic development. More and more young people are leaving the countryside to work in China's cities. Their parents are left alone and have to look after themselves. There are very few homes for the aged in the countryside.