China tries to stem soaring divorce rate

Chinese authorities are sending "think again" letters to couples applying for divorce after the number of people ending their marriages surged by 21% last year.

The growing number of legal break-ups, which have increased fivefold since 1979, has raised concerns that the first generation to grow up in one-child families were so spoiled that they are unable to make the sacrifices required of marriage.

According to figures released yesterday by the ministry of civil affairs, 1.6 million couples divorced in 2004, up by almost 300,000 on the previous year. Although the overall divorce rate is still lower than in Europe or the US, the long-term trend is upwards.

Adultery and divorce are becoming the most talked-about subjects in China's fast-changing society. Last year's most popular soap opera was called China Style Divorce. The tale of infidelity and break-up was voted the best drama of 2004 and was watched by hun dreds of millions of viewers.

Last year's steep rise was attributed mainly to simpler marriage and divorce procedures. In the past, couples needed permission from their work units to tie and untie the knot, which meant that, in 1991, two out of five divorce requests were turned down.

But under the new rules, couples can obtain quick divorces from register offices by taking in their marriage certificates, ID cards, resident permits and a signed statement that they no longer want to be married. It takes 10 minutes and costs10 yuan (65p).

Critics have warned that this has allowed people to rush in and out of marriage. In Shanghai, where divorces are more than double the national average, newspapers have reported on a couple who married in the morning and divorced that afternoon. Another couple reportedly married and divorced twice in a year.

Sociologists say the increase in break-ups reflects wider changes as China becomes wealthier and more liberal.