China’s halt of foreign adoptions leaves questions about pending cases

6/9/2024 12:28

        The Chinese government is ending its intercountry adoption program, and the US is seeking clarification on how the decision will affect hundreds of American families with pending applications.
        
        n a phone call with US diplomats in China, Beijing said it “will not continue to process cases at any stage” other than those cases covered by an exception clause.
        
        The embassy is seeking clarification in writing from China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, the US State Department said on Thursday.
        
        “We understand there are hundreds of families still pending completion of their adoption, and we sympathise with their situation,” the State Department said.
        
        At a daily briefing Thursday, Mao Ning, a spokeswoman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said 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.