The Chinese government unexpectedly terminated its intercountry adoption policy, a decision that has plunged many American families who wanted to adopt Chinese orphans into despair. At the same time, Chinese children who have already been adopted are also worried about whether they will be forgotten in the gray area of history. The sudden termination of this policy reflects China's shift in child welfare policy and the tensions in the current geopolitical situation between China and the United States.

The end of intercountry adoption, the harbor is empty

The Moore couple in Texas are one of these 300 families. Four years ago, they decided to adopt a Chinese orphan named Milo to fulfill their family dream. Milo suffers from Down syndrome, but the Moore couple is full of love and expectations for this future "son". After a long period of procedures and waiting, they thought they would be able to take Milo home soon. However, the new crown epidemic and policy changes brought all this to an abrupt end.

The Moore couple, who have been waiting for adoption since 2019, can only see fragments of Milo's life through videos or photos every few months-dancing, playing, and his cute appearance of wiping train toys. In order to make Milo feel at home, they sent him photos and family albums in Chinese and English, trying to convey love and warmth. However, this hope was shattered when the Chinese government announced the end of international adoption in September this year.

Also disappointed was Amy's family, who adopted a Chinese girl, Grace, in 2017, hoping to adopt a little sister for Grace to help her identify with Chinese culture. Although they had completed all the procedures and prepared a room for the little girl Penelope, they could only look at the empty room and accept the reality helplessly.

Historical background: the former international adoption boom

Since China opened its international adoption policy in 1992, the United States has become the largest country to receive Chinese orphans. This policy not only solved the problem of a large number of abandoned babies caused by the concept of favoring boys over girls under China's family planning policy at the time, but also met the adoption needs of many Western families. Initially, the international adoption policy helped a large number of healthy baby girls find new homes, but as China's fertility policy gradually adjusted, the objects of adoption began to gradually turn to children with disabilities or special needs.

Evangelical organizations in the United States actively advocated the adoption of Chinese orphans in the 1990s, and American families' interest in Chinese children peaked. By 2005, the United States alone had received 7,903 Chinese orphans, marking the peak of transnational adoption in China. However, transnational adoptions have gradually decreased in recent years, with only about 970 people in 2019, and only 63 people in 2020 due to epidemic restrictions.

Multiple reasons for the sudden policy shift

The reasons for this policy shift have sparked widespread discussion from the outside world. Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that this move is in line with the spirit of the Hague Adoption Convention, which is to give priority to finding a suitable family in the country of birth of the child. However, many experts believe that this shift is not only due to the increase in domestic adoption demand, but also includes complex factors in the geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.

Huang Yanzhong, a Chinese population expert, mentioned that China may convey a certain diplomatic message through the adoption issue. In 2013, Russia banned Americans from adopting Russian children after relations with the United States deteriorated, which may have become a reference for the Chinese government. However, some scholars believe that this policy reflects the growing national pride and emphasis on self-reliance, aiming to reduce dependence on other countries.

On the other hand, China's fertility rate continues to decline, and the demand for young people has increased. Since the full liberalization of the two-child policy in 2016, the number of births has declined year by year. In 2018, China's domestic infertility rate has climbed to about 12%, and the demand for adoption of healthy children has also increased after the policy was opened. This situation has made China pay more attention to its own child resources and believe that it no longer needs to rely on international adoption to find families for children.

300 lost families and unfinished reunions

The policy of ending inter-country adoptions has brought the adoption dreams of 300 American families to an abrupt end, and many people did not even receive the news before the travel permit was issued. The Moores and Amy's family are not isolated cases. These families have prepared rooms and gifts for their future children, and even send gifts every holiday to convey their love. However, the sudden policy shift has made their expectations come to nothing, and the children's rooms are now empty and silent.

Elizabeth is an American parent who is looking forward to adopting a child. She and her husband have prepared a symbolic room for the child. On the wall hangs a jade ruyi symbolizing Chinese culture, and on the bed are panda dolls and decorations with Chinese characteristics. However, with the sudden change in policy, this room may have to remain vacant forever.

Anxiety of adoptees: confusion about finding identity and identity

This policy change not only affects the waiting families, but also makes the adopted Chinese fall into anxiety about identity. Professor Wang Feng of the University of California pointed out that the cessation of international adoption marks the end of the "era of abandoned babies" under China's family planning policy. Many adopted Chinese orphans feel complicated about this. On the one hand, they are relieved to see that their future children will no longer face international abandonment, but on the other hand, they are also worried that they have become forgotten history.

Adoptee Grace Newton said that international adoptees often face various challenges in the process of finding their roots, and adoption records are their only clue to that period in China. She worries whether the Chinese government will destroy these documents, erase their history, and leave countless adoptees with the pain of "no origin".

What is the way out for disabled children after the end of the policy?

98% of abandoned babies in China suffer from serious illnesses or disabilities. These children have almost no chance of being adopted in China, and the United States was once an important way for them to find a family. Miriam Avery of the Love Plus Adoption Agency is worried that the end of international adoption may cause these disabled children to remain in welfare institutions forever. She pointed out that although families are more accepting of children with disabilities, in China, families generally give priority to healthy children, so a large number of disabled children may not find adoptive families.

Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin, believes that in the past, international adoption played a significant role in reducing the burden on welfare institutions. However, China now regards its population as a valuable resource, so stopping international adoption is a move in line with its population policy. Although this policy may not have a significant impact in the short term, for children who need special care, this change will undoubtedly make them face a more uncertain future.

How to end an era in hope?

The end of international adoption marks a transformation in China's population policy and family concepts. Despite their high expectations, the Moores, Amy's family and many American families can only say goodbye to their children who are about to come home. Many people believe that this policy is a product of the tension between China and the United States, and some are worried about the future of abandoned babies in China.

Adoptee Grace hopes that China will provide better welfare and resource support for disabled children in the future so that they do not have to rely on international adoption. She believes that if the adoption cooperation between China and the United States must end, it is better to end it with the reunion of all the waiting children returning to their families, rather than ending in despair.