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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why Chinese men are queuing up to marry women from Pakistan and Bangladesh, and why China is worried
A growing trend of Chinese men marrying women from countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh is raising concerns about human trafficking. While these unions may appear to be cross-cultural relationships, evidence suggests many are linked to criminal activities. Why is this happening? China faces a significant shortage of women of marriageable age due to the long-term effects of its one-child policy. This policy, in place from 1979 to 2015, led to a preference for sons, creating a demographic imbalance. Now, over 35 million Chinese men are without local partners, and this number is expected to rise. Who is affected? Desperate to find wives, many Chinese men are turning to websites and matchmaking services to find brides abroad, particularly in poorer countries. Some pay large sums to arrange these marriages. According to Ding Changfa, a professor from Xiamen University quoted by South China Morning Post: 'In rural China, we have approximately 34.9 million 'leftover men' who might face the marriage pressures of providing housing, cars, and bride price totalling between 500,000 and 600,000 yuan. Last year, the average disposable income per capita in rural areas across China was just over 20,000 yuan.' How does trafficking occur? Women from low-income communities are often lured with promises of genuine marriage and a better life. However, they find themselves trapped by criminal gangs. The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has warned citizens against using illegal matchmaking agencies and "buying a foreign wife." Despite laws against deceptive cross-border matchmaking, underground agents continue to operate. Where are these scams happening? Similar issues have been reported in Pakistan, where illegal marriage centers deceive Christian families. Chinese men are presented as wealthy converts, but many women are forced into prostitution or illegal organ trade after arriving in China. Illegal agents produce fake documents to disguise Chinese men as suitable matches. Live Events What are the governments doing? Government responses have been cautious. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad stated on May 12, 2019, 'There is no evidence of forced prostitution or organ trade involving Pakistani women in China,' but acknowledged illegal matchmaking operations. This comes as China and Pakistan are involved in the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which has brought thousands of Chinese workers to Pakistan, potentially facilitating illegal matchmaking. What are the challenges? Legal gaps and slow legal action hinder efforts to combat trafficking. Chinese citizens can easily obtain visas on arrival in Pakistan, while Pakistanis face strict visa processes to enter China, making it easier for traffickers to operate. What is the impact? Victims are isolated by language, culture, and lack of legal protection. Some in China have suggested lowering the legal marriage age to address the problem. Chen Songxi, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, proposed reducing the age from 22 for men and 20 for women to 18 years.
Miami Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
China Changes Marriage Rules Amid Efforts To Boost Birth Rates
China is easing restrictions on marriage registration as part of a broad campaign to address its shrinking population. New rules make it easier for couples to marry by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expanding where registrations can take place, according to the English-language state-owned newspaper China Daily. The new rules reflect Beijing's urgency in combating a demographic crisis. In 2024, China's population fell for a third consecutive year, and fewer than 6.1 million couples registered their marriages, down from 7.68 million in 2023, according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. It comes after the national political adviser Chen Songxi recommended lowering the legal age for marriage to 18 to boost fertility chances in February—the legal age for marriage in China is 22 for men and 20 for women. The new marriage rules came into effect on Saturday, eliminating the requirement for household registration books, and allow couples to register in locations other than their permanent residence. This change is particularly relevant in a society where over 490 million people live away from their registered hometowns, as of 2020, according to the national census. The process now takes around 10 minutes, China Daily reports, and includes checking ID cards and photos of the newlyweds, guiding them through filling out forms and verifying information. In the first quarter of this year, China recorded 1.81 million marriage registrations, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This is eight percent less than the same period last year. Bian Zhihui, a registrar at a new office in Beijing, told China Daily: "Previously, the newlyweds needed to go to the places of their household registration and take the hukou booklets for marriage registration. From now on, they just need to show their ID cards to tie the knot at marriage registration offices anywhere in the country." Xiujian Peng, senior research fellow at Victoria University's Centre of Policy Studies in Melbourne, previously told Newsweek: "Without comprehensive reforms, these efforts may have only a marginal effect on reversing declining fertility trends." "International experience suggests that more comprehensive policies tend to be more effective. For example, France successfully increased its fertility rate from 1.64 in 1993 to 1.8–1.9 between the 1990s and 2010s, while Denmark saw a rise from 1.38 in 1983 to 1.7–1.8 over the same period." The National People's Congress is expected to review further proposals, including lowering the legal marriage age and removing all limits on childbirth. If enacted, these changes could mark a significant pivot from China's decades-long restrictive population policies, positioning the country to address its most pressing demographic challenges in the decades ahead. Related Articles The 1600: Air Force One, Courtesy of Qatar?The Tallest Dam in the World Begins Storing WaterThe Amateur Hour Presidency: Tariffs, Trade, and the High Cost of Chaos | OpinionDonald Trump Scores Four Diplomatic Victories 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Changes Marriage Rules Amid Efforts To Boost Birth Rates
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is easing restrictions on marriage registration as part of a broad campaign to address its shrinking population. New rules make it easier for couples to marry by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and expanding where registrations can take place, according to the English-language state-owned newspaper China Daily. File photo of a nurse taking care of newborn babies in a maternity hospital in Fuyang in central China's Anhui province Monday, Aug. 08, 2022. File photo of a nurse taking care of newborn babies in a maternity hospital in Fuyang in central China's Anhui province Monday, Aug. 08, 2022. AP Why It Matters The new rules reflect Beijing's urgency in combating a demographic crisis. In 2024, China's population fell for a third consecutive year, and fewer than 6.1 million couples registered their marriages, down from 7.68 million in 2023, according to China's Ministry of Civil Affairs. It comes after the national political adviser Chen Songxi recommended lowering the legal age for marriage to 18 to boost fertility chances in February—the legal age for marriage in China is 22 for men and 20 for women. What To Know The new marriage rules came into effect on Saturday, eliminating the requirement for household registration books, and allow couples to register in locations other than their permanent residence. This change is particularly relevant in a society where over 490 million people live away from their registered hometowns, as of 2020, according to the national census. The process now takes around 10 minutes, China Daily reports, and includes checking ID cards and photos of the newlyweds, guiding them through filling out forms and verifying information. In the first quarter of this year, China recorded 1.81 million marriage registrations, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This is eight percent less than the same period last year. What People Are Saying Bian Zhihui, a registrar at a new office in Beijing, told China Daily: "Previously, the newlyweds needed to go to the places of their household registration and take the hukou booklets for marriage registration. From now on, they just need to show their ID cards to tie the knot at marriage registration offices anywhere in the country." Xiujian Peng, senior research fellow at Victoria University's Centre of Policy Studies in Melbourne, previously told Newsweek: "Without comprehensive reforms, these efforts may have only a marginal effect on reversing declining fertility trends." "International experience suggests that more comprehensive policies tend to be more effective. For example, France successfully increased its fertility rate from 1.64 in 1993 to 1.8–1.9 between the 1990s and 2010s, while Denmark saw a rise from 1.38 in 1983 to 1.7–1.8 over the same period." What Happens Next The National People's Congress is expected to review further proposals, including lowering the legal marriage age and removing all limits on childbirth. If enacted, these changes could mark a significant pivot from China's decades-long restrictive population policies, positioning the country to address its most pressing demographic challenges in the decades ahead.
Asia Times
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
‘Leftover men' fuel trafficked bride boom in China
China's marriage rate is in steep decline. There were 6.1 million marriage registrations nationwide in 2024, down from 7.7 million the previous year. This decline has prompted Chen Songxi, a Chinese national political adviser, to propose lowering the legal marriage age from 22 to 18. The drop in China's marriage rate has been driven by a combination of factors. These include increased economic pressures, evolving social attitudes towards marriage, and higher levels of education. Urban Chinese women, in particular, are increasingly pushing back against traditional gender expectations, which emphasize marriage and childbearing as essential life milestones. Rising living costs are also making it increasingly difficult for many young people to afford to get married. At the same time, China is grappling with a longstanding gender imbalance, a legacy of the country's sweeping one-child policy and cultural preference for male children. In the early 2000s, when the imbalance was at its peak, China's sex ratio at birth reached 121 boys for every 100 girls. For every 100 girls born in some provinces, there were more than 130 boys. The gender imbalance is particularly pronounced among those born in the 1980s, a generation I belong to. This is due to the widespread use of ultrasound technology from the mid-1980s onward, which offered parents the ability to terminate pregnancies if their child was female. Unmarried men in China have become part of the so-called 'era of leftover men' (shengnan shidai in Chinese). This is an internet term that loosely refers to the period between 2020 and 2050 when an estimated 30 million to 50 million Chinese men are expected to be unable to find a wife. A Chinese couple walks through Beijing with their child in 2015. Photo: TonyV3112 / Shutterstock via The Conversation The conundrum is that many of these 'leftover' men want to marry – I know this firsthand. Some of my peers from primary and secondary school have been desperately searching for a wife, but have struggled to find a spouse. A widely used phrase in China, 'difficulty in getting married' (jiehun nan), encapsulates this struggle. Unable to find a domestic spouse, some Chinese men have turned to 'purchasing' foreign brides. The growing demand for these brides, particularly in rural areas, has fuelled a rise in illegal marriages. This includes marriages involving children and women who have been trafficked into China primarily from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. According to a Human Rights Watch report released in 2019 on bride trafficking from Myanmar to China 'a porous border and lack of response by law enforcement agencies on both sides [has] created an environment in which traffickers flourish.' The Chinese government has now pledged to crack down on the industry. In March 2024, China's Ministry of Public Security launched a campaign against the transnational trafficking of women and children, calling for enhanced international cooperation to eliminate these crimes. 'Purchased' foreign brides These marriages are often arranged through informal networks or commercial agencies, both of which are illegal, according to China's State Council. Human Rights Watch says that women and girls in neighboring countries are typically tricked by brokers who promise well-paid employment in China. They find themselves at the mercy of the brokers once they reach China, and are sold for between US$3,000 and $13,000 to Chinese men. Determining the extent of illegal cross-border marriages in China is challenging due to the clandestine nature of these activities. But the most recent data from the UK's Home Office suggests that 75% of Vietnamese human trafficking victims were smuggled to China, with women and children making up 90% of cases. The Woman from Myanmar, an award-winning documentary from 2022, follows the story of a trafficked Myanmar woman who was sold into marriage in China. The film exposes the harsh realities faced by many trafficked brides. It captures not only the coercion and abuse many of these women endure but also their struggle for autonomy and survival in a system that treats them as commodities. Larry, a trafficked woman who features in the documentary, explained that she saw her capacity to bear children as her pathway to survival. The Chinese authorities constantly warn of scams involving brides purchased from abroad. In November 2024, for example, two people were prosecuted over their involvement in an illegal cross-border matchmaking scheme. Chinese men were lured into extremely expensive 'marriage tours' abroad with promises of 'affordable' foreign wives. There have also been cases where the undocumented brides themselves have disappeared with large sums of money before marriage arrangements are completed. Most of the foreign brides are trafficked into China from neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. MuchMania / Shutterstock via The Converation China's marriage crisis has far-reaching implications for the country's demographic future. A shrinking and aging population is often cited as the greatest challenge for Chinese economic growth and social stability. Beijing has resisted this characterization, saying that constant technological innovations will continue to drive economic growth. The labor force is undoubtedly important when it comes to economic growth. However, according to Justin Lin Yifu, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference advisory body, what matters more is effective labor – the product of both the quantity and quality of the labor force. China has increased its investment in education continually over recent years in anticipation of future challenges surrounding its aging population. But, notwithstanding this, an even greater concern is the large number of leftover men, as this could pose a serious threat to social stability. Studies have found a positive correlation between high male-to-female sex ratios and crime rates both in China and India, where there is also a significant gender imbalance. In China, research has found that skewed male-sex ratios have accounted for around 14% of the rise in crime since the mid-1990s. And in India, modeling suggests that a 5.5% rise in the male-sex ratio would increase the odds of unmarried women being harassed by more than 20%. The question of who China's leftover men will marry is becoming a pressing issue for Beijing. The government's response will shape the country's future for decades to come. Ming Gao is research scholar of East Asia studies in the History Division, Lund University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
South China Morning Post
27-02-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Why ordinary Chinese oppose lowering the legal marriage age to 18
Every few years, when the time comes round for China's annual political meetings, or 'two sessions', there's bound to be an adviser who suggests lowering the legal marriage age to 18. Advertisement This year, that person is Chen Songxi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). He told the media that China's marriage age is among the highest in the world, and should be lowered to 18 to 'unleash reproductive potential'. The legal age for marriage in China is 22 for men and 20 for women, compared with most developed countries where the legal marriage age is 18. Unsurprising, this suggestion drew waves of criticism online, just like previous times. In 2019 and 2021, others had also proposed this, with the reason that these ages had been set back when China wanted to put the brakes on rapid population growth. Now the situation is vastly different. China's population fell for a third consecutive year in 2024, as marriages plunged by a record 20 per cent, despite the authorities' efforts to encourage young couples to wed and have children. There's almost no support for these proposals on the Chinese internet. On Weibo, popular voices said lowering the age would not be meaningful. One post read: 'Society should progress in civilisation, not regress to the barbaric era.' Another said: 'At 18, you're not even mature enough to be a parent and it's hard enough earning a living for yourself. How are you going to raise a child?' Advertisement The lawmakers might be taken aback by some of the more vehement comments. To their minds, this is just about bringing China in line with international standards and arresting population decline, a trend that will ultimately hurt the economy.
