He Yafu says the controversy has damaged the public image of one-child policy in China. Journalist Fareed Zakaria suggested there were signs that the Chinese government was softening its rules, noting the large number of prominent citizens who spoke out against Feng's abortion. Zakaria wrote, "Even a few years ago, it would have taken a very brave Chinese thinker to pose that question in public." However, he said that formal change would be impossible before a change in leadership occurred, and even then would "take much courage".
