The illustrious Royal Thai Consulate General in Kunming has recently issued an advisory for Thai women contemplating marriage with Chinese men. The counsel delivered by the Thai Consul General in Kunming, Ms Bhavivarn Noraphallop, emphasises on the importance of examining the prospective groom’s history meticulously and securely, safeguarding proper visa documentation, and registering their marriage with Thai authorities.
This essential advice was presented during a vibrant interaction shared between journalists and Ms. Noraphallop at a workshop titled “China in the New Era: What the Thai Media Should Know”. This worthwhile event was gracefully arranged by the Embassy of China to Thailand in collaboration with the Thai Journalist Association in Kunming during the period of the 24th to 27th of July.
As stated by the illustrious Ms Noraphallop, priority issues concerning the consulate-general include border security and Thai expatriates’ welfare. Given Yunnan province’s proximity to Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, the Consulate often mediates in addressing numerous border-centric concerns such as illegal immigration, overstays, and cross-border crime, she added.
A matter of significant concern to Ms. Noraphallop is the surging trend of unsuccessful marriages between Thai women and Chinese men from the region. She attributes these instances of martial discord to insufficient preliminary investigations and overly high expectations harboured by Thai women.
“Many Thai women have misconceptions about life in China”, said Ms. Noraphallop. Several of them anticipate a remarkable improvement in their standard of living upon marrying a Chinese spouse, but the reality frequently belies their expectations.
Why are an increasing number of Chinese men getting married to foreign brides? It’s a result of the combination of Beijing’s One-Child policy and the deep-rooted preference for a male heir, leading to an alarming skew in the gender ratio. This has created a bustling trend of match-making businesses, catering specifically to Chinese men desirous of Thai women, perceived widely for their home-making skills.
Women from Northeast Thailand frequently approach these match-making agencies, viewing this as an opportunity to enhance their economic status. However, many of these women relocate to southern China without performing any background check on their prospective family, added Ms. Noraphallop. Struggling with a language barrier and a lack of understanding of the Chinese culture, some of them seek the consul’s assistance to return back to Thailand.
Others unfortunately have suffered ill-treatment by their new families, or have been coerced into working extended hours on family farms. “We strongly urge Thais to be better prepared for relocating and to moderate their expectations, as life in China could potentially be more challenging than in Thailand”, Ms. Noraphallop advised.
She further expressed the necessity for Thai women marrying foreigners to retain their travel documents and secure the appropriate visa to ensure their rights are honored under Chinese law. In addition, it’s good practice to register the marriage at the nearest Royal Thai Embassy to ensure timely assistance in case of emergencies, concluded Ms. Noraphallop.
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