Beijing Morning Post released on November 1 the result of 2004 Durex Global Sex Survey, which said that the Chinese people have the most per capita sexual partners as 19.3, far more than the world's average of 10.5.

Will any Chinese, either male or female, admit having nearly 20 partners?

Of course, Durex has its own explanation, that is the survey was conducted through the Internet.

A convenient edge of Internet survey is its anonymity, which enables privacy-concerning sex survey to get better cooperation than those done in reality. However, the anonymity also causes those surveyed to be answering very casually. In China, netizens do not take a representative proportion among the total population. Plus, some netizens treated the survey irresponsibly or even maliciously. There came the "19.3", which, though added up, is far from the fact.

Admittedly, extramarital affairs and those before marriage in China are on the rise as the Chinese people have been influenced by the Western sex liberation concept and liberated from the traditional ethical code. However, it must be scaring if the number of partners of the Chinese is at the world's top. The fact is, in the eyes of Westerners, China after the opening-up has still not realized sexual liberation.

Chinese view on sex arouses introspection among Westerners. Just not long ago, Western scientists praised Chinese traditional view on marriage, reckoning that prudent and responsible conception on family and marriage, and keeping loyal to sex, are conducive to preventing AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) from spreading and is worthwhile for people in the western world to learn.

Isn't it contradicting when Durex placed the Chinese people atop the world's rankings on sexual partners?

Increasing partners is not a tendency worth optimism. However, it is not necessary to curb such an unhealthy phenomenon through exaggerating the statistics. In fact, every thing can be clear if we know what Durex is. Durex, the world's most well-known condom producer, "has always been caring the health of the masses and dedicated to public benefit". That is why there has been the so-called largest-ever survey on sex.

Editor: Catherine