China halts foreign adoptions of its children, leaving families in limbo
FILE-An American couple hold a Chinese orphan they adopted in Wuhan of Hubei Province, China. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)
The Chinese government is ending its intercountry adoption program, as the U.S. tries to determine the impact this move will have on American families with pending adoption applications.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson tells the Associated Press that China is no longer allowing foreign adoptions of the country's children, with the only exception for blood relatives to adopt a child or a stepchild.
Citing a statement from the U.S. State Department, the Associated Press reported that the agency said Beijing will not continue to process adoption cases other than ones covered by an "exception clause."
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U.S. State Department officials added that they are trying to get clarification on the decision in writing from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs.
In its annual report on adoptions, the U.S. State Department explained that China suspended international adoptions during COVID-19.
According to the Associated Press, the Chinese government later resumed adoptions for children who received travel consent before the suspension in 2020.
Citing the report, the AP noted that the U.S. consulate issued 16 visas for adoptions from China from October 2022 through September 2023.