Today’s Focus: “Dry Marriage” Trend in Mainland China: Helplessness in a Pressurized Society; Chinese Flocking to CIA Recruitment After CCP’s Backfire; “Not Diplomacy, but Coercion”: US House Condemns CCP-Planned Car Accident.
Let’s first look at the emerging phenomenon in Chinese society, known as “dry marriage.”
What is a dry marriage? Essentially, it refers to a “desolate marriage.” Legally, the couple is married, but in reality, they lead separate lives, much like being single.
Currently, this “hollow marriage” is rapidly spreading from first-tier cities like Shanghai to the entire country, reflecting people’s helplessness and compromise in marriages under high societal pressure.
In a state of “dry marriage,” although the couple lives together, there is no mutual care or effort for the family. They seem to be on a mission, with minimal emotional exchange apart from daily chores. Extreme cases show that sometimes they even avoid making eye contact, have clear financial divisions, implement a strict “split the bill” policy for all family expenses, without any compromises, resembling more like “cohabitating roommates.”
A white-collar worker in Shanghai lamented online: “I feel like I’m working for my marriage: my husband and I split the house expenses, take turns ‘on duty’ at each other’s parents’ homes on weekends, even pregnancy and childbirth feel like meeting KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).” This marriage didn’t offer her any warmth, only leaving her exhausted and resentful.
Another couple in Shanghai takes it to the extreme by sleeping in separate rooms, using a shared calendar app to schedule household chores, even dividing responsibilities for cat care meticulously on an Excel sheet, specifying tasks like who cleans the cat litter on Mondays and takes the cat for check-ups on Wednesdays. Every purchase of cat food is split down to the last detail. While everything seems to function well in the household to outsiders, there’s a lack of warmth and affection, making them more like household business partners than spouses.
Such cases are widespread. A Shanghai blogger cited survey data indicating that by 2025, the percentage of “dry marriage” households in Shanghai had reached 15%.
In an article, influential figure “Baike Password” pointed out that 92% of “dry marriage” couples had detailed prenuptial agreements, detailing property ownership, daily expenses, and even the allocation of future parenting costs, surpassing corporate contracts in thoroughness. While this may seem trivial, the issue lies in these prenuptial agreements acting more as preparations for divorce.
Many wonder, how can such cold marriages endure long term?
So, what are the reasons behind “dry marriages”?
Analysts believe the primary cause is heavy economic pressure. In first-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, where housing prices per square meter can easily reach five to six digits, divorce would significantly increase housing costs.
Secondly, there’s pressure from the workplace. Under the 996 work system, young people work over 10 hours a day on average, leaving them exhausted. Combined with commuting time, they spend scarce time at home and lack the energy to nurture relationships.
Lastly, there’s societal economic pressure. Today’s high mortgage and car loans, along with soaring living expenses, suffocate young families. Additionally, most young people in China are only children and lack experience living with peers their age, hindering relationship cultivation. Under immense pressure, they struggle to adjust their mindsets, making marriages fragile. The outdated notion instilled by the previous generation of “stay together for the children” adds to their passive outlook.
Considered a new type of marital status, “dry marriages” impact individuals, families, and even society at large. Research shows that individuals in “dry marriages” have a depression index 35% higher than ordinary married individuals. Moreover, 82% of parents “stay together for the children,” but children raised in such dissonant families experience psychological issues three times more than those from normal families, distorting their views on relationships. Additionally, 80% of couples in a “dry marriage” state declare no intention to have children, which isn’t favorable for society as it accelerates the aging population process.
Currently, China’s laws are insufficient in addressing this new marital status. Conversely, policies like the “cooling-off period for divorce” exacerbate this situation.
More critically, this type of marital state will affect more young people, making them fear marriage. Nowadays, even if young people choose to marry, they hesitate to trust their partners, refraining from sharing their emotions and being wary of their partners. In this environment, it’s challenging for young people to cultivate a normal marriage and enjoy the warmth of a family.
On May 1, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) posted a video on social media openly encouraging high-ranking and grassroots CCP officials to defect. Recently, the CCP’s Ministry of State Security responded, deeming the US behavior “absurd and laughable.” However, embarrassingly for the CCP, what was intended to refute the US video turned into a debacle on Chinese websites, with the comment section turning into a “job recruitment platform” for netizens.
On May 1, the CIA publicly recruited “officials dissatisfied with the CCP,” warning about the possibility of being purged under the CCP’s system and offering help for those seeking a way out to assist the US in gathering intelligence.
After the video release, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US, calling it a “blatant political provocation.” Ironically, the Ministry of State Security remained silent.
It wasn’t until June 25, over a month later, that the Ministry of State Security responded. However, to the CCP’s surprise, beneath the official video, Chinese netizens openly expressed interest in the US “job advertisement” and engaged in lively discussions.
On June 28, the X platform account “Toronto Aspect” released a video stating that the CCP’s original intention was to mock the US, but the comment section turned chaotic with comments like “asking for a friend, how much is the salary?” “Do you have weekends off? Full benefits?” “Is it an 8-hour workday?” “This job is not suitable for ordinary people; starts from at least the lowest level.” “How much is the salary?” “What are the requirements?” “Do you get weekends off?” “Is the workload intense?” “Please provide a link, waiting urgently online.”
An overseas netizen’s comment read, “As long as the CIA gives out guns to the recruited employees! Settle the employee’s family identities and housing in the US! The remaining salary to be distributed according to the average US wage! I believe an underground task force of tens of millions will emerge in China.”
Another netizen remarked that just like during the Eight-Nation Alliance’s entry into Beijing, people are now eager to become “guides,” implying a desperate job market in China.
Another netizen pointed out the current situation in China, stating that it seems like a “welcoming of the conquerors” due to the rulers’ actions.
Former legal adviser in the Inner Mongolia Government’s Office, Du Wen, told Epoch Times that if the CIA can properly resettle high-ranking CCP officials and their families, he believes these officials will defect en masse.
Former Deputy Mayor of Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, Li Chuanliang, told Epoch Times that internal turmoil and extreme instability prevail within the CCP. This condition arises from consolidated authoritarianism following Xi Jinping’s constitutional amendment. While CCP officials find it difficult to escape due to various restrictions, he believes that “at least eighty to ninety percent are ideologically against it.” He urges, “Don’t work for this terror organization anymore, don’t be accomplices.”
During a visit to the Czech Republic last March, Vice President of the Republic of China, Tsai Ing-wen, faced threats orchestrated by the CCP, including a plotted “car accident.” On the same day of the incident, the vehicle Tsai was traveling in was rear-ended, nearly causing an accident.
Recently, the Czech intelligence department confirmed that during Tsai’s visit to the Czech Republic, she was followed by CCP diplomatic personnel, and the potential car accident was a CCP-led operation. Czech media further revealed that the original CCP plan wasn’t just a simple rear-end collision but intended to orchestrate a car accident.
In response, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority of the US Federal Congress issued a statement on June 28, stating, “The CCP’s criminal activities are now laid bare. This isn’t diplomacy but coercion.” They emphasize that the CCP’s actions are akin to its past suppression of the Hong Kong democracy movement, noting that attempting to intimidate the Vice President of Taiwan on NATO member soil constitutes a criminal act.
On June 27, the Select Committee on the CCP Democrats of the US House of Representatives stated on social media that this incident highlights the escalating threat of CCP-cross-border repression. They stressed that this was the reason for reintroducing the “Taiwan Allies Fund Act” this year and called on Congress to immediately pass the bill.
The “Taiwan Allies Fund Act” authorizes a $120 million allocation by the US government to aid Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and unofficial partners facing CCP pressure.
Former Senior China Affairs Official at the White House National Security Council, Du Rusong, criticized the CCP’s attempt to intimidate Tsai Ing-wen as “outrageous.” If the claims made by the Czech intelligence department are true, he believes that the Czech Republic has sufficient reason to expel CCP diplomats stationed in the country.
The “Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China” (IPAC) condemned the CCP’s orchestrated attack on Tsai Ing-wen’s car in the Czech Republic and called on countries worldwide to denounce the CCP’s political violence. The statement labeled such a plan, if successful, as constituting state terrorism and even if unsuccessful, considered the act itself to have crossed a line. A nation that plans such overt, politically motivated violent acts in another country isn’t a regime that respects diplomatic norms.
On June 28, Tsai Ing-wen reposted this message and asserted on social media that she wouldn’t be intimidated by the CCP’s illegal actions. She emphasized that she would continue to advocate for Taiwan internationally. She described her visit to Prague as very pleasant, appreciating the warm hospitality and safety provided by the Czech authorities.
Furthermore, Tsai Ing-wen extended gratitude to global parliamentarians, noting that it was their united opposition against “violence and threats” that prevented Taiwan from being isolated due to threats.
Regarding this incident, the Taiwan government expressed great indignation and, to preclude CCP threats to Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) proposed a resolution in the Legislative Yuan condemning CCP atrocities and promoted the “National Security Decade” to bolster the country’s security.
Secretary-General of the DPP caucus in the Legislative Yuan, Wu Sui-yao, urged the opposition parties to declare their support for the resolution. She stressed that the US House of Representatives had condemned the CCP’s actions and expected Taiwan’s Parliament to adopt a similar stance.
Legislator Wang Ting-yu stated that the incident has sparked international outrage, with approximately 20-30 countries’ parliamentarians initiating a joint condemnation against the CCP. He noted that the Taiwanese government demanded an apology from the CCP and clarification on the incident. However, he pointed out with regret that Taiwan’s opposition parties have yet to criticize the CCP’s behavior, calling for clarity on their stance.
Legislator Huang Kuo-chang also expressed that irrespective of party affiliation, a strict stance is necessary when events like Vice President Tsai’s encounter occur overseas. The Taiwan government should firmly negotiate with Czech authorities to clarify the perpetrators’ identities, the status of the investigation progress, whether the culprits have been legally sanctioned, and provide public clarification.
—Epoch Focus Production—