A teenage girl from China’s Yi minority community has given birth to twin boys after serving as both a surrogate and an egg donor for a 50-year-old man. The man allegedly paid her over 900,000 yuan (INR 1 crore), sparking widespread outrage and an official investigation, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The case was revealed by activist Shangguan Zhengyi on social media. According to his post, the 17-year-old girl, born in May 2007 and from the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture in Sichuan province, underwent surrogacy through an agency in Guangzhou. She gave birth on February 2 in Guangdong province.
The father of the twins, identified by his surname Long, is a 50-year-old man from Jiangxi province. Reports suggest the girl was just 16 years old when the embryo was implanted. Documents shared by the activist, including the children’s birth certificates and contracts, reveal that Long specifically requested twin boys.
A 66-Year-Old Woman Becomes a Mother for the 10th Time, Credits to Healthy Lifestyle
The Surrogacy Agreement
Long signed a surrogacy agreement with Guangzhou Junlan Medical Equipment Co. Ltd for 730,000 yuan (INR 81 lakh) but ultimately paid over 900,000 yuan (INR 1 crore). It is unclear how much of this money reached the girl. Since Long is unmarried, he allegedly posed as the girl’s husband to obtain the children’s birth certificates and household registrations.
In response to the public outcry, the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission has launched an investigation into the case. While China does not have a law explicitly banning surrogacy, several regulations prohibit the practice.
Legal experts have raised concerns. Wu Zhenhua, a lawyer from Beijing Yedi Law Firm, told Beijing Radio and Television Station that the surrogacy agency could face charges of illegal business operations and unauthorized medical practices. He further noted,
“Organizing minors to participate in surrogacy constitutes harms them and may involve women and children trafficking or intentional injury. The fabrication of documents and household registrations may violate laws against forging, altering, or trading official government documents. The male client may also be complicit in these crimes.”
The case has sparked a wave of online reactions. One concerned citizen commented, “This news broke my heart. As a mother, I know the pain of pregnancy. My daughter was born in 2008, and now a girl born in 2007 has already become a surrogate mother and had twins. This must be thoroughly investigated.”
