Marriage of 16-year-olds sparks debate on social media

Photos of two 16-year-olds in a wedding gown and suit at what seems to be a wedding have triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media. [Photo/Weibo.com]

Photos of two 16-year-olds in a wedding gown and suit at what seems to be a wedding have triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media.

The two teens, who were first reported to be a 13-year-old groom and a 16-year-old bride, have made clarification online that they both reached 16 years old, and their marriage has won the blessing and support of their parents, despite the legal marriageable age in China being 22 for males and 20 for females.

The couple, from a small town in south China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, claimed to have known each other for over a year. Both have dropped out of school. Aside from clarifying their ages in the online statement, the two also refuted netizens' speculation that the marriage is due to the bride's pregnancy.

"The marriage between us is just inevitable after knowing each other for over a year. So we just held the ceremony and will get a marriage certificate after we reach our legal age," said the 16-year-old bride.

The fact that the groom quit in the second year of junior high school sparked debate. According to Chinese law, a teenager has to receive nine years of compulsory education, namely six years of primary school education and three years in junior high school.

Two 16-year-olds in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region recently held a wedding. [Photo/Weibo.com]

"My parents are farmers, and since I am not good at schooling, why waste the time and tuition fees? " said the groom. Since two years ago, after he quit school, he has been working in Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi.

Some web users questioned the meaning of this wedding, since it is not legal. "Is it possible that their families arranged this wedding, invited friends to the wedding banquet so as to collect gift money? The 'marriage' is not protected by law anyway," Weibo user Ajiaojiao said.

"We fell in love, and with our families' support we held this wedding. We just wait to get to a marriageable age. The current 'debate' or attention on me is really disturbing my life. " said the groom.