China officially denies late-term abortions are common.

Strange that I'd be living a life where I'd consider this newsworthy. A world, even, where this would be news.

China's Vice Health Minister Jiang Zuojun at a news conference said, "Regarding the abortion of eight-month-old fetuses, this is definitely something the Chinese government is opposed to," adding, "We do not allow the abortion of elderly fetuses, such as eight-month fetuses. ... [E]ven if there are such cases, they are isolated cases."

In related news, Jiang did not give an update on human rights... more

As a word geek, I became irrationally exuberant upon discovering this old entry on Language Log about Chinese Philadelphia Food and the cultural significance of Cantonese vs. Mandarin. And, of course, how to translate "cheesesteak" into Chinese characters. And where to order the best Chinese one in Philly. Even though I don't normally eat meat....

If you happen to be reading this in the United Kingdom, The Herald has an interesting story on international adoption. I know the red tape is different in... more

So, if there was any doubt that China adoptive parents(*) were one of the best-networked demographics on the web, here: Half the Sky just got $5,000 from Global Giving, as part of the charity drive/popularity contest I wrote about here. Half the Sky does great work, and it's nice to see that line up with some kind of recognition. As well as, you know, direct benefit.

But wait! There's still a chance to give more!

Global Giving isn't just piling on the cash, but it's offering matching donations... more

The Chinese government and Tiger Balm are starting something interesting:

The San Jose Mercury News reports on adopted kids going "home."

For some Bay Area adolescents, next week's trip to China is the first time they've gone back to the country of their birth. Moreover, local participants believe it is the first time China will be extending a high-level official welcome to a new group of overseas Chinese, those whose families are not usually ethnically and culturally Chinese.

As adoption from China settles... more

I've just read word on the net from some agencies that if you're adopting from Guangdong Province, as of August 1, you'll have to spend an extra four or five days in the province because of some new processing thing with the child's passport. Thus far, it's only that one province. Instead of spending two weeks in Guangzhou, you'll have to spend three.

I'll try to find some details.

Rumor Queen has a little here and more here-- it's sort of larded between speculations about the... more

As if China's oh, no bird flu here, just a bit of violent sneezing, ignore that dead man on the stretcher thing wasn't bad enough, there's a new development in the story.

Someone posed as the scientist publishing the whistle-blowing paper to try to have it withdrawn from publication. Using an official email address.

As in, "Hi, New England Journal of Medicine? Yes, I'm that whistle-blowing fellow. Could I please have that whistle back?... more

If you haven't been keeping up with the Ken, Ellen & Bei blog, you might want to check out the latest entry.

Set-up: Ken & Ellen are both English teachers who are spending a year living and working in China with their adopted daughter Bei. Usually, the breathtaking stuff on the blog comes from their photographs, but they've just posted a few student essays pertinent to the whole One-Child Policy. The assigment was to write a memoir.

Here's a snippet... more

Anybody know anything about this new thing I was just reading about regarding folks paying fees to visit their kids' orphanages?

It's all new to me....

forwarded and forwarded again around the Yahoogroup circuit:

China (Civil Affairs) does have a new regulation (which actually is the procedure we've been using for 5 years) that all visits to orphanages must be approved in advance by the Provincial Civil Affairs office - starting June 1 - using proper documentation/request (that is, you can't just call them at the province for approval or you can't just show up at an orphanage and visit). For OCDF travelers - You all completed the Orphanage Request... more

China definitely seems to be tightening the reins as far as international adoption goes -- there've been rumors about some kind of weight requirement for parents, referral times have slowed down, and they've formally announced that, while single parents can adopt, they'd really rather them not be of the homosexual variety.

From the China Daily site comes this terse announcement:

The CCAA shall not identify prospective adoptive referrals for homosexuals. Legally, the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China recognizes only families formed by marriage of opposite... more

Traveling families -- as if you didn't have enough to worry about....

USA Today and Fox "News" bring notice today (or, uh, on Friday) of the latest mysterious "something might (or might not) happen somewhere so keep your eyes open and pulse rates elevated, America" announcement.

I merely repeat it here because it applies, this time, to China -- specifically, the three major cities in China where there's a big Western presence.... more