"In addition to soybeans, Americans have imagined the cross-border adoption issue in Sino-US talks"

Recently, the US side has repeatedly hinted that China and the US may hold meetings in the near future to discuss trade issues such as soybeans. US President Trump recently said he is optimistic about the final conclusion of a trade agreement between the two sides.

According to a report by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post on the 29th, in addition to trade issues, Americans have their own hidden agenda — wanting to discuss cross-border adoption issues with China.

The report stated that since December 1992, more than 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted across borders, including more than 82,000 children adopted by American families. In September 2024, China adjusted its cross-border adoption policy, affecting the adoption procedures of nearly 270 American families. Currently, these families hope that President Trump can facilitate this wish during the Sino-US meeting.

On local time the 27th, a senior White House official first responded to the South China Morning Post, stating that as a "America First" president, Trump is aware of their plight, and "the Trump administration is committed to supporting American families and protecting children."

The official then recklessly commented on China's policy, claiming that China's decision to stop American families from cross-border adoption is "unacceptable," and the US "continues to urge the Chinese government to allow these families to complete the adoption process."

According to the report, the White House's response has reignited hope for American families. Previously, these families appealed through various channels, hoping to bring the issue to the top level of both sides, but the US government has always taken a negative attitude toward this issue.

In 2024, over 100 U.S. congressmen and 33 state governors wrote to the former U.S. President Biden, but he did not include this issue in the high-level meeting agenda. After the Trump administration took office, these families wrote to Trump multiple times. However, last month, a U.S. Department of State official advised them to seek other avenues and frankly admitted that the final decision rests with China. The official also stated that this issue has already been raised at the ambassadorial level, and the White House "has not yet" included it on the agenda.

The report warned that although American families are full of hope, experts who study Sino-U.S. relations have warned that the tense bilateral relationship may hinder the progress of the issue. Dennis Simon, a scholar who has long studied Sino-U.S. cooperation, said: "Frankly speaking, if everything goes smoothly and the atmosphere is positive, such requests are more likely to be approved. If there are constant disputes, I guess this kind of issue will be at the bottom of the list."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website's message from last September, a foreign reporter mentioned that the U.S. Department of State said that the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs had informed the U.S. government that civil affairs departments in various places in China had stopped cross-border adoption work since August 28 of that year. Can you confirm and further introduce the relevant situation?

Regarding this, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, pointed out that the Chinese government has adjusted the cross-border adoption policy, and in the future, except for "foreigners adopting the children and stepchildren of their third-degree collateral blood relatives," China will no longer send children abroad for adoption, which is in line with the spirit of the relevant international conventions. We appreciate the wishes and love of the governments of relevant countries and adoption families to adopt Chinese children. For specific situations, please consult the relevant Chinese authorities.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847291612307530/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."