Justice and development: the transnational bride trafficking from Vietnam to China
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JMLC-08-2020-0087 |
| Published date | 07 May 2021 |
| Date | 07 May 2021 |
| Pages | 621-632 |
| Subject Matter | Accounting & finance,Financial risk/company failure,Financial compliance/regulation,Financial crime |
| Author | Hung Nguyen |
Justice and development: the
transnational bride trafficking
from Vietnam to China
Hung Nguyen
Centre of Development Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to provide an overview of transnational bride trafficking from Vietnam to
China, enrichingthe human trafficking literature with the Vietnamese perspective.It proposes to analyze this
bride trade in the developmental contextand outline how the supplies and demands for brides root in socio-
economical-legal forces such as poverty, lack of law enforcement and culture. This study also brings to
attention the involvementof organized crime and collusion of governmentofficials as the main drivers of the
traffickingactivities.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper opts for an analytical study using published data,
including newspaper reports,previous research studies and public records. The data were complemented by
the analysis of the trafficking victim’sstories, descriptions of trafficking activities, copies of statisticsand the
examinationof the legal framework that concerns human trafficking in China and Vietnam.
Findings –This paper provides empirical insights into how transnational bride trafficking is brought
about. It suggests that while the vulnerability to trafficking stems primarily from developmental forces,
the most crucial element that makes this transnational bride trafficking possible is the involvement of
organized crime.
Research limitations/implications –Because of the chosen research approach, this paper lacks
originalityin data, and some data might not be up-to-datebecause of the lack of sufficient interest.
Practical implications –This paper includes implicationsfor developing a more nuanced understanding
of transnationalbride trafficking and the development of new policies that could remedythe issue.
Originality/value –Despite the factthat Vietnam is among countries most affected by humantrafficking,
there are only a few studies from the Vietnameseperspective. This paper fulfills the need to enrich the debate
by providingan informative work on bride trafficking in Vietnam.
Keywords China, Vietnam, Culture, Organized crime, Development studies, Bride trafficking
Paper type General review
1. Introduction
According to the Human Rights First (2019), human trafficking is one of the most lucrative
industries, worth an estimated profit of $150bn. Of this number, sex trafficking, which includes
forced sex labor and forced marriage, creates an approximate profitof$99bnfortraffickers.
Slavery is hardly a new phenomenon; however, the organized and illegal nature of human
trafficking, especially bride trafficking, poses significant challenges for sovereign states to
monitor the issue. Despite the great efforts and success of international communities in
combating terrorism and drugs, human trafficking has not received the same attention. Human
The author would like to expess my gratitude to Professor Barry Rider of Jesus College, the
coordinator of Paper 30 in the Centre of Development Studies (Cambridge University), for his
guiadance and useful critique of this research work.
Bride
trafficking
from Vietnam
to China
621
Journalof Money Laundering
Control
Vol.24 No. 3, 2021
pp. 621-632
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1368-5201
DOI 10.1108/JMLC-08-2020-0087
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1368-5201.htm
To continue reading
Request your trial