China is grappling with a significant demographic challenge, with close to 35 million “leftover men,” a result of the country’s former one-child policy. The gender imbalance has drawn new attention after Ding Changfa, an associate professor at Xiamen University, suggested international marriages as a potential solution.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), his proposal has sparked widespread debate and backlash online.
The root of this issue is tied to the one-child policy, which, as shown in the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, has led to approximately 34.9 million more men than women.
The Institute for China Rural Studies at Central China Normal University recently highlighted that rural men find it increasingly challenging to secure spouses due to high bride prices and a shift in traditional marriage values.
Ding’s proposal involves encouraging men to consider partners from countries such as Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Pakistan. “In rural China, we have about 34.9 million ‘leftover men’ who face the pressure of providing housing, cars, and bride prices ranging from 500,000 to 600,000 yuan (US$70,000 to US$84,000),” he noted, suggesting that “attracting a significant number of eligible young women from overseas” could help address this imbalance.
International matchmaking is already on the rise. Matchmakers on Douyin are offering services that connect Chinese men with Russian women, capitalizing on the female population surplus in Russia.
Finance influencer Jingongzi, with over 1.8 million Douyin followers, noted, “Southeast Asia has had longstanding ties with China, and culturally, we share much in common.”
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