Image reproduced from 風傳媒

A man from Keelung, referred to as Alex (pseudonym), tied the knot with his Vietnamese bride, Mia (pseudonym), in early 2023, formally registering their marriage in Taiwan on February 8, 2023. However, just four days after her arrival in Taiwan, Mia vanished without a trace, leaving Alex devastated and leading him to file for divorce after two years of silence.

Reports indicate that during their first outing together at a temple in Keelung, Alex took Mia to eat lunch with his family. She excused herself, saying she needed to use the restroom, but never returned. Shocked and concerned, Alex reported her disappearance to the police and reviewed surveillance footage, revealing that a vehicle had arrived to pick Mia up on that day, suggesting prior planning for her departure.

Two years passed with no word from Mia, prompting Alex to turn to the Keelung District Court for a divorce petition. After reviewing the case, the court determined that the marriage was irreparably broken and granted the divorce. According to the judgment, Alex had married Mia in Vietnam prior to completing their marriage registration in Taiwan on February 8, 2023, with Mia moving to Taiwan on February 26 of the same year.

Alex stated that although they lived together briefly after Mia entered Taiwan, she left home without explanation on the fourth day, after which all communication ceased. He made multiple attempts to reach her through phone calls and social media but received no responses. Alex’s mother testified in court, recalling the incident when their family was dining at the Keelung Night Market. Mia suddenly left the table to use the restroom and did not return, prompting the family to call the police for help. Reviewing surveillance footage revealed that a vehicle had specifically come to pick Mia up that day, indicating a possible pre-arranged plan.

Alex maintained that his wife had not gotten into any disputes with family and he was unaware of her whereabouts. After two years of silence, he had no choice but to seek divorce through the courts. During the legal proceedings, the court summoned Mia, but she failed to appear or provide any written explanation. The judge noted that since Mia left the shared residence, she had neither returned nor communicated her intentions, making their marital relationship effectively nonexistent. The court concurred with Article 1052 of the Civil Code regarding "serious reasons making it difficult to maintain marriage," affirming that the circumstances were not caused by Alex, thereby approving the divorce.

This case serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the complexities and potential issues faced in international marriages, reminding readers that despite initial hopes, challenges can arise unexpectedly.