China Power | Society | East Asia
Demographic pressure is fueling a demand for trafficked brides and sex workers, both from within China and from abroad.
China’s sex industry, which is booming despite official prohibitions, reveals the deep structural and human rights issues at the intersection of economic hardship, systemic gender imbalance, and weak law enforcement. The rise in prostitution and the surge in the trafficking of women – both domestic and transnational – underscore not only failures in policy but also the profound vulnerabilities faced by women within and beyond China’s borders.
The resurgence of prostitution in China is closely tied to the country’s policies of economic liberalization in the late 20th century. As traditional industries declined and rural populations migrated to urban centers, many women, particularly those with limited education, found themselves with few viable employment options. Economic downturns and rising unemployment in recent years have only intensified this trend, pushing more women into sex work as a means of survival. Estimates suggest that some 10 million people are engaged in sex work across China, a figure that points to a systemic crisis rather than isolated criminality.
While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) enforces a strict ban on prostitution, enforcement is often erratic and disproportionately targets sex workers rather than clients or organizers. This punitive approach fails to address the underlying socioeconomic drivers of the industry. Compounding the problem, there have been documented cases of officials themselves being implicated in the sex trade, highlighting both the hypocrisy and possible complicity of elements within the party’s ranks.
The 2022 “Chained Woman” incident in Jiangsu province brought global attention to the plight of trafficked women in China. A woman was found shackled in a rural hut, having been trafficked and repeatedly abused over years. The viral outrage that followed was a response not only to the brutality of the individual traffickers but also to the failures of local authorities, who initially downplayed the incident and failed to protect the victim. The case became a national symbol of the dangers faced by women – particularly those from vulnerable backgrounds – and the systemic gaps in protection and accountability.
China’s sex industry is deeply intertwined with global trafficking networks. Women and girls from neighboring countries – North Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia – are trafficked into China for forced marriages or sexual exploitation. The root causes are complex, but a significant driver is China’s gender imbalance, a legacy of the one-child policy, and a cultural preference for sons. With an estimated 30 to 40 million more men than women, projections indicate that by 2030, over one in four Chinese men in their late 30s will remain unmarried. This demographic pressure fuels demand for trafficked brides and sex workers.
Reports from organizations such as the Korea Future Initiative document the harrowing experiences of North Korean women trafficked in China, many of whom are sold multiple times and forced into prostitution, cybersex, or marriages for as little as $146. It is estimated that up to 20,000 North Korean women and girls have escaped into China, about 60 percent of whom are trafficked into the sex industry. The trade reportedly generates over $100 million annually for Chinese traffickers.
Similar patterns are seen with women from Pakistan and Bangladesh. In recent years, Chinese nationals have been arrested for orchestrating the trafficking of Pakistani brides, with victims reporting physical and sexual abuse, forced pregnancies, and threats to their safety. Cases from Bangladesh detail how women are deceived with promises of a better life, only to be forced into prostitution or abusive marriages once in China.
The “Chained Woman” incident and the widespread trafficking of foreign women into China are not isolated tragedies but symptoms of deeper systemic failures. The CCP’s ambiguous stance and inconsistent enforcement allow the sex industry and trafficking networks to flourish, while vulnerable women bear the brunt of exploitation and abuse.
To address this crisis, China must move beyond punitive crackdowns and instead implement comprehensive reforms that tackle the root socioeconomic causes, strengthen protections for at-risk populations, and ensure accountability at all levels of government. Only through transparency, robust law enforcement, and genuine policy shifts can the cycle of exploitation and trafficking be broken.
