China is ending foreign adoptions of its children. That leaves hundreds of American families in limbo

China Ends Foreign Adoptions, Leaving Pending Applications in Limbo #

China has decided to end most foreign adoptions of its children, leaving hundreds of American and other foreign families with pending applications uncertain about their future. China had sent tens of thousands of adoptees abroad since the 1990s due to its one-child policy, resulting in the abandonment of many children, especially girls and those with disabilities. However, as China’s economy grew and birth rates declined, international adoptions from China reduced. The Covid-19 pandemic further halted the adoption process. Now, China has officially announced the end of the adoption program, except for cases where foreigners are adopting blood relatives’ children. This decision is in line with global trends and aims to address the country’s declining birth rates and demographic challenges. The announcement raises concerns for the American families currently in the process of adopting Chinese children. The US embassy in Beijing is seeking clarification on the new directive. Since 1992, over 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted internationally, with around half of them going to the US.