Like most countries, China is battling the same social trends of lower marriage rates, coupled with higher divorce rates. Positive efforts are being made to combat those rising rates through counselling and a "cooling off" period. However, an article recently published by the High Court in Shangdong to counter "frivolous dissolutions" has triggered a public backlash by suggesting that infidelity was not a ground for a divorce. 

Condemning unhappy couples to remain married, or forcing them to go through a divisive divorce process seems a rather counter-intuitive approach to encouraging marriage. Logic would suggest that making it harder to divorce would be a disincentive to get married at all. 

Thankfully in England & Wales, couples will shortly be able to obtain a divorce without apportioning blame; the "no fault divorce" should be available for couples to use from 6 April 2022. For many it's arrival is long overdue.