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The Chinese embassy warned its nationals against falling for misleading “cross-border dating” content on short video platforms.
Chinese embassy in Bangladesh warned its citizens against the idea of of ‘buying a foreign wife’ | Image/AP
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh on Sunday issued an advisory urging its citizens to avoid illegal cross-border marriage arrangements and remain cautious of deceptive online matchmaking schemes.
According to the Global Timesthe embassy warned Chinese nationals against falling for misleading “cross-border dating” content on short video platforms. It also discouraged them from seeking “foreign wives” through informal connections or commercial matchmaking agencies—practices strictly prohibited under Chinese law.
“They (Chinese nationals) should reject the idea of ‘buying a foreign wife’ and think twice before marrying in Bangladesh,” the embassy stated.
The advisory comes amid increasing concerns over bride trafficking in China. The country’s now-abolished one-child policy and a longstanding cultural preference for sons have contributed to a significant gender imbalance.
An estimated 30 million Chinese men remain unmarried, often referred to as “leftover men.” This demographic crisis, alongside falling marriage rates, has fueled a growing demand for foreign brides.
In Bangladesh, reports have surfaced of women being trafficked to China under the false promise of marriage. A recent investigation by The Daily Star highlighted how criminal syndicates orchestrate such operations, exploiting vulnerable women and families.
The embassy emphasized that many of these marriages are arranged through illegal or exploitative means, potentially exposing those involved to serious legal consequences.
Chinese law prohibits individuals and agencies from conducting or disguising cross-border matchmaking for profit or through deceit. The embassy urged any victims of romance or marriage scams to promptly report such cases to China’s public security authorities.
It also warned that Chinese citizens found engaging in illegal cross-border marriages in Bangladesh could face arrest and prosecution for human trafficking.
Under Bangladesh’s Anti-Human Trafficking Act and Penal Code, those convicted of organizing human trafficking face a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment, which can extend to life or even the death penalty. Individuals who incite, plan, or assist trafficking operations can be sentenced to three to seven years in prison and fined up to 20,000 taka (approximately $185).
The trafficking of Bangladeshi women has extended beyond China. In 2021, Dhaka Police arrested 11 suspects accused of using TikTok to lure victims into the sex trade in India, according to a report by Al Jazera.
- Location :
Dhaka, Bangladesh
- First Published:
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