China has decided to end the practice of allowing children to be adopted overseas. Over the last 30 years, around 150,000 Chinese children were adopted abroad, primarily to the United States. The Chinese government stated that the new policy aligns with international agreements and that from now on, only children adopted by close relatives living abroad will be permitted.
The decision reflects changes in China’s demographics and a focus on keeping children within the country. With a declining birth rate and a push to encourage families to have more children, the government believes it is essential to care for its own children domestically. Many of these adopted children have returned to China to reconnect with their heritage.
There is now more support for domestic adoption and fostering, and changing attitudes among Chinese families toward adopting children who are not biologically theirs. The goal is to strengthen family values within China and ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a loving environment.
Vocabulary:
• Intercountry: Between or involving two or more countries.
• Collateral: Related but not directly; refers to relatives not in the direct line of descent.
• Demographic: Related to the structure of populations, such as age, birth rate, and migration.
• Eradicated: Completely eliminated or removed.
• IVF (In Vitro Fertilization): A medical procedure to help with conception.
• Foster: To take care of a child, usually temporarily, without being the child's legal parent.
Source: ABC News