“Cooling off”? According to the new law that came into force in January, Chinese couples looking to divorce must first complete a mandatory month-long "cooling off" period to reflect. They must then apply again if they still feel the same. If they don’t show up for two appointments between 30 and 60 days after applying, their application is cancelled. What’s behind the law? The Communist Party of China introduced the legislation in a bid to reduce rising divorce rates. Last year, around 4.15 million Chinese couples got divorced; in 2003, it was 1.3 million. The reasons for the rise…? A variety of issues, including the increasing autonomy of women in China, as well as a growing intolerance of domestic abuse and extra marital affairs, along with reduced stigma.