China has introduced a revised draft law that seeks to simplify the marriage registration process while making it more challenging for couples to divorce. This move, aimed at fostering a “family-friendly society,” has quickly garnered criticism online, becoming a top trending topic on Thursday, August 15, 2024.
The draft law, released this week by China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs for public feedback, allows citizens to submit comments until September 11. The proposed legislation is part of broader efforts by policymakers to encourage young couples to marry and have children, following years of population decline in the country.
One significant change in the draft is the removal of regional restrictions on marriage registration, which previously required couples to register at the location of their household registration. However, the new regulations also introduce a 30-day cooling-off period for divorces. During this period, if either party withdraws their application, the divorce process is terminated.
Criticism of the draft law was swift on Chinese social media, with one Weibo user commenting, “It’s easy to get married, but hard to divorce. What a stupid rule.” The post attracted tens of thousands of likes, highlighting widespread discontent.
Despite the backlash, proponents of the law argue it will help “promote the importance of marriage and family,” reduce impulsive divorces, and uphold social stability. “The regulation aims to better protect the legitimate rights of the parties involved,” stated Jiang Quanbao, a professor at the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong University, in an interview with the state-backed Global Times.
Official data reflects the urgency of such measures: the number of Chinese couples who married in the first half of this year fell by 498,000 compared to the previous year, reaching 3.43 million—the lowest since 2013. As China’s economic growth slows, many young people are delaying or forgoing marriage due to concerns over job security and their future outlook.
Marriage remains a prerequisite for having children in China, where policies often require parents to present a marriage certificate to register their baby and receive associated benefits. The draft law is part of the government’s strategy to address these demographic challenges.
As the public continues to weigh in on the proposed law, the debate over marriage and family in China is far from over.
