China recently announced the suspension of international adoptions, leaving Chinese adoptees in the U.S. like Maze Felix feeling a mix of emotions including anger, relief, grief, and confusion. This development has made an already complex experience even more complicated for many adoptees, who are grappling with feelings about maintaining their birth cultures while mourning the end of a program that played a central role in their lives.
The suspension of international adoptions comes as China grapples with declining birth rates and economic challenges, leading to the implementation of a three-child policy in 2021. This has raised concerns among adoptees about their connection to their birth country and heritage, as well as legal challenges related to securing citizenship. Adoptees like Katelyn Monaco reflect on the impact of China’s one-child policy, under which many children with disabilities ended up in social welfare systems.
The new rule has also sparked concerns about the fate of existing records for adoptees, with many feeling anxious about potential lost ties to their home country, including orphanage visits and birth parent searches. There is a fear that adoptees could be forgotten or minimized in history. Moving forward, adoption experts emphasize the importance of providing support for children in Chinese social welfare institutes and individuals with disabilities, as well as involving adoptees in discussions about policy changes.Newton said adoptees should not be seen as perpetual children and their perspectives should be valued in conversations about adoption policies.
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