It seems that condoms are igniting a lot of disputes: on whether there should be condom selling machines on campus; whether it is appropriate to put condom advertisement on buses, and so forth. 

Li Yinhe, China's first female sociologist on sex issues, carried a comment on the Beijingnews, calling for an end to the disputes.

She says condoms have two major functions: prevent pregnancy and prevent AIDs and dissease spreading. She says these is no point that there should be any objections on promoting the use of condoms.

The sociologist said the dispute is a reflection of people's wrong conceptions towards sex.

Sex has been a taboo subject in China for well over 2000 years from feudal times. Even now, many Chinese still regard it as something shameful or dirty to talk about it in public. 

(CRI January 23, 2006)