CNN - Oct 21 - In today's China, ~4,500 couples split up every day. More than 2.46M couples divorced in the country last year -- nearly twice the number in 2001. "The rise in divorce rate is expected because China over the years has been going through drastic social and economic changes," said Xu Haoyuan, a U.S.-trained psychiatrist. The key reason was the revision in 2003 of the marriage registration regulation, making it easier to divorce. Before the change, couples seeking a divorce were required to get letters from their work units or neighborhood committees that explained and endorsed their reasons for breaking up. Those who did not want to be subjected to lectures, gossips and shame opted to stay miserably married. Under the new rules, if couples are not fighting over property rights or child custody, they can get their divorce in minutes. FULL ARTICLE @ CNN
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