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China Ends Foreign Adoptions from August 28, Impacting Hundreds of U.S. Families

Sep 6, 2024, 07:05 AM

The Chinese government has officially ended its international adoption program, a policy that has been in place for over three decades. The decision, which took effect on August 28, 2024, will halt the adoption of Chinese children by foreign families, except in cases where blood relatives are involved. This move is expected to impact hundreds of American families with pending adoption applications. The policy change is seen as a shift from China's previous focus on managing overpopulation through its one-child policy to addressing domestic adoption needs. The largest victims of this policy change are likely children with special needs, who were often abandoned by their Chinese parents and had fewer prospects for adoption within China. Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, confirmed the decision, which also affects families whose adoptions were put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic.