China ends foreign adoptions, leaving some hopeful families with questions
Global News
Only people who are blood relatives or step-relatives of Chinese children will be able to apply for international adoption.
The Chinese government announced the end of its international adoption program, leaving some Canadians who may have already been in the process of foreign adoption in the lurch.
During a daily briefing in the country on Thursday, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, said the inter-country program will come to an immediate end, halting foreigners from adopting Chinese children.
Presently, only people who are blood relatives or step-relatives of Chinese children can apply for international adoption.
Much is still unclear about the fate of foreigners who have already begun the adoption processes, as well as the future of Chinese children living in orphanages.
Mao said the decision to stop international adoption was made in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions.
“We express our appreciation to those foreign governments and families, who wish to adopt Chinese children, for their good intention and the love and kindness they have shown,” she said.
Officials in Beijing told U.S. diplomats in China that international adoption “will not continue to process cases at any stage,” The Associated Press reported.
According to the non-profit China’s Children International, more than 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted by foreigners since the country began permitting international adoption in 1992. Over 82,000 of those children have been adopted in the U.S. alone.