<p>Chinese couples seeking a divorce must first complete a month-long "cooling-off" period according to a new law passed Thursday that sparked outrage over state interference in private relationships.</p>.<p>The provision that requires couples filing for separation to wait for a month before their request can be processed -- in a bid to reduce divorce rates -- sparked widespread opposition when lawmakers first sought feedback last year.</p>.<p>After it was passed, the law became one of the top trending topics on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo -- with over 25 million views of posts using the hashtag "oppose the divorce cool-off period".</p>.<p>The country's first-ever civil code -- passed during its annual rubber-stamp parliament -- is a sweeping piece of legislation that will replace existing laws on marriage, adoption and property rights among others.</p>.<p>"We cannot even divorce freely?" wrote one user. "There must still be a lot of people who marry impulsively, they should set a cooling off period for getting married as well!"</p>.<p>"They passed the divorce cooling off period despite everyone's opposition online, which means their respect for public opinion is just for show," added another commentator.</p>.<p>The cooling-off period will not apply if one spouse is seeking divorce following domestic violence.</p>.<p>China's divorce rate has increased steadily since 2003, when marriage laws were liberalised and as more women become financially independent</p>.<p>But that led to "reckless divorces" becoming an increasingly common phenomenon not conducive to family stability, an official told China Women's Daily recently.</p>.<p>Last year some 4.15 million Chinese couples untied the knot -- up from 1.3 million in 2003, when couples were first allowed to divorce by mutual consent without going to court.</p>.<p>Before then, divorce had to be obtained by one spouse suing another in court.</p>.<p>The new civil code will come into effect on January 1, 2021.</p>.<p>Other new laws include expanding the definition of sexual harassment, new protections against land grabs, and measures to allow people to donate the organs of dead relatives.</p>
<p>Chinese couples seeking a divorce must first complete a month-long "cooling-off" period according to a new law passed Thursday that sparked outrage over state interference in private relationships.</p>.<p>The provision that requires couples filing for separation to wait for a month before their request can be processed -- in a bid to reduce divorce rates -- sparked widespread opposition when lawmakers first sought feedback last year.</p>.<p>After it was passed, the law became one of the top trending topics on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo -- with over 25 million views of posts using the hashtag "oppose the divorce cool-off period".</p>.<p>The country's first-ever civil code -- passed during its annual rubber-stamp parliament -- is a sweeping piece of legislation that will replace existing laws on marriage, adoption and property rights among others.</p>.<p>"We cannot even divorce freely?" wrote one user. "There must still be a lot of people who marry impulsively, they should set a cooling off period for getting married as well!"</p>.<p>"They passed the divorce cooling off period despite everyone's opposition online, which means their respect for public opinion is just for show," added another commentator.</p>.<p>The cooling-off period will not apply if one spouse is seeking divorce following domestic violence.</p>.<p>China's divorce rate has increased steadily since 2003, when marriage laws were liberalised and as more women become financially independent</p>.<p>But that led to "reckless divorces" becoming an increasingly common phenomenon not conducive to family stability, an official told China Women's Daily recently.</p>.<p>Last year some 4.15 million Chinese couples untied the knot -- up from 1.3 million in 2003, when couples were first allowed to divorce by mutual consent without going to court.</p>.<p>Before then, divorce had to be obtained by one spouse suing another in court.</p>.<p>The new civil code will come into effect on January 1, 2021.</p>.<p>Other new laws include expanding the definition of sexual harassment, new protections against land grabs, and measures to allow people to donate the organs of dead relatives.</p>