China warns citizens against ‘buying foreign wives’ amid rising marriage scams in Bangladesh

The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has issued a strong advisory warning its citizens against engaging in illegal cross-border marriages and deceptive matchmaking schemes. The advisory comes amid a rise in reports of Chinese men being lured by promises of "foreign wives" through online platforms and informal networks.

According to the embassy, many of these so-called cross-border marriages are disguised trafficking operations, often facilitated through banned commercial matchmaking agencies or misleading social media content. These arrangements not only violate Chinese law but also pose serious legal risks in Bangladesh, where human trafficking laws carry strict penalties.

The advisory specifically warns against the notion of "buying a foreign wife" — a concept that has gained traction due to China’s demographic crisis and gender imbalance. As marriage rates decline and the demand for brides rises, trafficking networks have reportedly targeted vulnerable women in countries like Bangladesh and trafficked them under the guise of marriage.

Chinese authorities urged nationals to report any such scams and reminded them that involvement in illegal cross-border marriages could lead to arrest and prosecution. In Bangladesh, human trafficking offences carry punishments ranging from seven years’ imprisonment to life sentences or even the death penalty.