]
China’s decision to end its international adoption program has sparked concern
among hundreds of American families with pending applications. Announced by
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a daily briefing, the
policy now restricts intercountry adoptions except for cases involving blood
relatives or stepchildren. This decision not only leaves many prospective
adoptive families in limbo but also signals the culmination of trends that have
been building over the past several years.
China’s
international adoption program, once one of the largest in the world, has been
winding down for some time. Over 82,000 children have been adopted from China
by American families alone, a figure that makes China the leading source
country for intercountry adoptions in the United States. However, changes in
China’s political, demographic, and economic situation, coupled with the
suspension of international adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to
a sharp decline in the number of adoptions and now to the program’s cessation.
Previously,
one of the driving forces behind China’s international adoption boom was its
one-child policy, which led to many children–particularly girls–being put up
for adoption, as parents in the Confucian society sought to ensure that their
sole child was male. However, as China phased out its one-child policy and
introduced measures to encourage higher birth rates, the flow of children into
orphanages declined. The social stigma surrounding having more than one child
has also lessened, contributing to fewer children being abandoned or placed in
institutional care.
Moreover,
the economic strides China has made in recent years mean that families are now
better able to care for their children, and fewer children are being placed up
for adoption overall. Adoption agencies have reported that the number of
available children has steadily decreased, with fewer children requiring
placement internationally.
The
COVID-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in the decline of international
adoptions. In 2020, China largely suspended the program, with only a small
number of adoptions allowed to proceed for those who had already received
travel authorization before the pandemic. The lengthy delays in processing
adoptions further discouraged prospective families, some of whom had waited
nearly a decade to complete their adoption.
As
the pandemic waned, China briefly resumed adoptions for those with pre-existing
travel approvals, but the numbers remained minimal. In the 2022-2023 fiscal
year, for example, only 16 visas were issued for adoptions from China,
according to the U.S. State Department’s annual report. With this dwindling
number of adoptions, China’s formal announcement effectively confirms the
conclusion many had already seen coming.
The
changing political landscape in China also plays a role in the decision. Under
President Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has placed increasing emphasis on
self-sufficiency, national strength, and social cohesion. The end of the
adoption program aligns with this broader nationalist sentiment, suggesting
that China now views international adoptions as less necessary or desirable.
The
decision to end international adoptions has left hundreds of American families
in limbo, with the U.S. State Department working to clarify how this new policy
will affect pending cases. According to letters sent to adoption agencies, all
pending adoptions have been canceled except, once again, those with
already-issued travel authorizations. Families who have waited years for their
adoption to be finalized now face an uncertain future.
The
response from adoptive parents and adoptees has been mixed. While some mourn
the end of an era, others see it as a necessary step toward ensuring that
children are cared for within their country of origin. The Nanchang Project, a
United-States based organization that helps Chinese adoptees reconnect with
their biological families, stated that the program was already “on its way out”
and expressed hope that the remaining children in China would receive the love
and care they need domestically.
Other
countries have also reexamined their international adoption policies in recent
years. Denmark’s only overseas adoption agency announced it would wind down
operations after concerns arose about fabricated documents, and Norway’s top
regulatory body recommended halting overseas adoptions for two years while
investigating procedural issues. These developments suggest a broader
reevaluation of the ethics and necessity of intercountry adoptions.
As
China continues to adjust to its new demographic realities–marked by declining
birth rates and an aging population–the end of the international adoption
program underscores a shift toward domestic solutions. The Chinese government’s
emphasis on taking care of its own children within national borders, combined
with a reduced need for international placements, reflects the country’s
growing confidence in its ability to provide for its most vulnerable citizens.
