In a cautionary note, Chinese state media has confirmed a directive issued by the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh on 1 June 2025, advising Chinese men against marrying Bangladeshi women. The message served as a reminder, warning citizens about the growing number of dating apps and matchmaking services that falsely promise foreign brides, including those from Bangladesh. According to Chinese law, such cross-border matchmaking is strictly prohibited, whether facilitated by agencies or individuals.
The embassy urged Chinese nationals in Bangladesh not to fall for misleading dating content circulating on video platforms and to reject the notion of “purchasing” a foreign spouse. Citing legal restrictions, the embassy emphasized that no licensed marriage agency in China is permitted to arrange international unions for profit or through deceit.
Chinese citizens were also cautioned to steer clear of commercialized cross-border marriage services and to be alert to online romance scams, which often lead to significant emotional and financial harm. Victims were advised to report incidents immediately to Chinese public security authorities.
Furthermore, the embassy reminded citizens that Bangladesh enforces strict anti-human trafficking laws. Anyone involved in unauthorized or deceptive cross-border marriages could face arrest under suspicion of trafficking. Given the slow pace of the judicial system in Bangladesh, such legal proceedings can take years from arrest to sentencing.
An investigative report revealed that China is currently facing a demographic imbalance, with an estimated 35 million more men than women—a legacy of the former one-child policy, which resulted in widespread gender-selective abortions and child abandonment. Marriage rates have also declined sharply, with only 6.1 million marriage registrations in 2024, down from 7.7 million in 2023.
This growing gender gap has led to the emergence of the term “Shengnan Shidai”, meaning the “Era of Leftover Men.” It refers to the period between 2020 and 2050, during which an estimated 30 to 50 million Chinese men may remain unmarried due to the lack of women.
In response to rising concerns, China’s Ministry of Public Security launched a campaign in 2024 targeting the trafficking of women from neighboring countries. Authorities uncovered a pattern in which brokers lured women and girls with promises of high-paying jobs in China, only to sell them to Chinese men for prices ranging from $3,000 to $13,000.
(With inputs from Times Of India)