China Ends International Adoption Program

China has abruptly ended most international adoptions, leaving many families heartbroken and their pending applications in limbo. The decision, announced on September 5, affects all foreign adoptions except for those involving a child's blood relatives, citing alignment with international trends. Families like Pierre LeMay and Nathalie Bissonnette from Quebec, who were on the verge of adopting an eight-year-old boy with special needs, are particularly devastated, fearing for his future without a family. Others, such as Laurie Carey from Alabama, expressed anguish over the emotional impact on children who had formed connections with their prospective adoptive parents. This policy shift comes amidst China's demographic crisis, which has seen a declining birth rate and changing societal attitudes toward family size. The historical context includes a surge in adoptions following China's previous one-child policy, but the current ban marks a significant turning point for international adoption from the country.