Country Report: China

The U.S. State Department has just issued its 2017 Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction under the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (ICAPRA). The following is the Country Summary and related information for China:

Country Summary: China does not adhere to any protocols with respect to international parental child abduction.

Central Authority: In 2016, the competent authorities in China periodically declined to communicate or work with the Department of State to resolve pending abduction cases. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was slow to respond to a diplomatic request for assistance with the resolution of existing cases. Moreover, authorities did not discuss the larger issue of international parental child abduction nor address remedies for left-behind parents in general.

Location: The Department of State did not request assistance with location from the Chinese authorities.

Judicial Authorities: The United States is not aware of any abduction cases brought before the Chinese judiciary in 2016.

Enforcement: The United States is not aware of any abduction cases in which a judicial order relating to international parental child abduction needed to be enforced by the Chinese authorities.

Department Recommendations: The Department will continue to encourage China to accede to the Convention and expand diplomacy activities related to the Convention. The Department also recommends an emphasis on preventing abductions.