China’s adoption ban impacting local families
UPDATE:
A petition has been organized based on the following recent events. It includes a pre-drafted letter for one’s local Congressional Representatives.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — On September 5, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Mao (M-O-W) Ning announced that China would no longer be sending children overseas for adoption.
This decision now puts adopting families in limbo…
Tobby Phillips and his wife, Lacey have a 9-year-old daughter Josie. They have been in the process of adopting a little girl from China, named Min.
Mao Ning says, “The Chinese government has adjusted its policy on international adoptions. In the future, except for cases where foreign nationals adopt children who are collateral relatives within three generations or stepchildren, China will no longer send children abroad for adoption. This is in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions…”
Tobby Phillips says, “It doesn’t make sense…it seems that no one is gaining anything from this…Adoption just seemed like the pentacle of it all. To be able to bring a child from another country to bring them home to be able to share what we have with the freedoms that we have in America and just the privileges that we have.”
While Mao Ning says that the Chinese government has adjusted its cross-border adoption policy to align with international trends, they thank relevant countries, adoptive families, and those who wish to adopt. However, it is not clear what would happen to families in the process of adoption as they have put a stop to all overseas adoption.
The family of Min is heartbroken during this difficult time, and they share a heartfelt message in hopes that somehow, she might hear it.
Josie Phillips, daughter of Tobby and Lacey Phillips says, “If I could tell Min one thing it would be that I love her.”
Tobby Phillips says, “We will never give up, you will always be on our hearts, you will always be in our prayers…”
Lacey Phillips says, “If I could tell Min one thing it would be that she has a home and that she is loved, and that we’ll never give up on her and she will always be our little girl.”
