The Chinese government is ending a program that allows international families to adopt children from the country this week.
According to the Associated Press (AP), in a phone call with U.S. diplomats in China, Beijing said it “will not continue to process cases at any stage” except for blood relatives adopting a child or stepchild.
The State Department said on Thursday that the embassy is seeking clarification in writing from China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs.
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“We understand there are hundreds of families still pending completion of their adoption, and we sympathize with their situation,” the State Department said.
“This is in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference. “We are grateful for the desire and love of the governments and adoptive families of relevant countries to adopt Chinese children.”