China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday instructed courts across the country to highlight the protection of underage children during divorce trials.

Judges are required to remind divorcing parents of their legal obligations toward their children and warn them of the consequences of violating related laws, the SPC said in a statement.

Divorcing parents will be fully informed of the legal consequences of forcefully seizing or hiding underage children with the intention of gaining custody, the statement said.

Local courts are encouraged to deploy various media, online or offline, face-to-face or written, in text or via video, to highlight child protection at every stage of a divorce trial.

Similar measures can also be introduced in other trials involving minors, the statement said.