In September 2024, the People’s Republic of China announced that it was closing its intercountry adoption program after 30 years. Since this program was once one of the most active in the world, its cessation brings the future of intercountry adoption into question. This article presents a brief history of intercountry adoptions from China and other countries, discusses reasons for its demise, and considers the consequences—for China’s children and for intercountry adoptions more broadly. It questions whether we are indeed seeing the end of intercountry adoption “as we know it,” while recognizing the emergence of new systems of care. This includes improved child protection, family preservation, and alternative forms of care — including domestic adoption in previous “sending” countries like China — that more closely align with children’s rights.
