【By Observer Net, Qi Qian】

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

According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post, in addition to trade issues, Americans have their own hidden agenda — wanting to discuss transnational adoption issues with China.

A American family adopting a Chinese girl The South China Morning Post

The report said that since December 1992, more than 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted internationally, including over 82,000 children adopted by American families. In September 2024, China adjusted its transnational 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-U.S. meeting.

On the local day of 27, a senior White House official made his first response to the South China Morning Post, saying that as a "America First" president, Trump is aware of their difficulties, and the Trump administration is committed to supporting American families and protecting children.

The official then made an unfounded comment on China's policy, claiming that China's decision to stop American families from transnational adoption was "unacceptable," and the U.S. "continues to call on the Chinese government to allow these families to complete the adoption process."

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

In 2024, more than 100 U.S. congressmen and 33 state governors wrote letters to the former U.S. President Biden, but he did not include this issue in the high-level meeting schedule. After the Trump administration took office, these families wrote multiple letters to Trump. However, last month, a U.S. State Department official suggested they seek other ways and frankly admitted that the final decision lies with China. The official also said that this issue has been raised at the ambassadorial level, and the White House has "not yet" included it on the agenda.

The report reminds that although American families are full of hope, experts who study Sino-U.S. relations warn 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 issue will be at the bottom of the list."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, in September last year, a foreign journalist mentioned that the U.S. Department of State stated that the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs had informed the U.S. government that local civil affairs departments across China had stopped transnational adoption work starting from August 28 of that year. Can you confirm and further introduce the relevant situation?

Regarding this, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, pointed out that the Chinese government has adjusted the transnational adoption policy, and in the future, except for "foreigners coming to China to adopt the children and stepchildren of the third-degree collateral blood relatives," no more children will be sent abroad for adoption, which is in line with the spirit of 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, it is recommended to consult the relevant Chinese authorities.

"Transnational adoption should have ended long ago," said Yuan Ye, a columnist of Observer Net, in an article titled so last September.

Yuan Ye mentioned that the "Adoption Law of the People's Republic of China" was promulgated on December 29, 1991, and came into effect in April 1992. At that time, the reform and opening-up cause was in its early stages, the economic and social development of China had a thin foundation and weak base, per capita GDP was only hundreds of dollars, and the living conditions of ordinary families were greatly different from those of Western countries. The social welfare system was not yet sound and could not fully guarantee that all orphans received necessary care and a growing environment. Moreover, the old idea of preferring boys over girls contributed to the relaxation of transnational adoption as a practical choice to deal with the placement of some orphans.

"However, transnational adoption is not a long-term solution," Yuan Ye said. With China's rapid development, our children no longer need to travel far to find warmth in foreign homes. Most importantly, the comprehensive progress of the social economy has significantly reduced the number of orphans.

Yuan Ye mentioned that the reasons for suspending transnational adoption also include concerns about child trafficking and other forms of systematic abuse. It is worth noting that the United States, the country that has adopted the most Chinese children, is also the only member of the United Nations that has not yet ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

It is introduced that in recent years, more and more countries have taken measures to restrict transnational adoption.

In 2013, after a series of high-profile abuse cases were exposed, Russia banned American families from adopting children from its country and clearly stated that domestic adoption would be given priority, aiming to ensure that children grow up in their own culture and family environment. Due to concerns about corruption, child trafficking, and unethical adoption practices, countries such as Romania, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan have successively banned transnational adoption. For population security considerations, Israel has also banned transnational adoption of its children.

Additionally, since the 1980s, South Korea has gradually reduced the number of international adoptions and implemented a series of policies to promote domestic adoption, aiming to get rid of the label of a "child export country."

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566459143063405119/

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