Rather, it says it will preferentially place orphaned children with overseas couples that fits a set of criteria from May to give adopted children better protection.

The Center, under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, says it has had to adjust its procedures to balance the huge increase in overseas adoption applications with the limited number of children available for adoption.

Lu Ying, the Executive Director of China Center of Adoption Affairs, told People's Daily that China's adoption policy has not changed. Rather, they have introduced preferential treatment to resolve the current problems in the foreign adoption system.

In recent years, there have not been enough children to satisfy all the foreign couples who wish to adopt Chinese children. Many couples have to wait 14 or 15 months to meet their new child in China.

To resolve the problem, some foreign adoption organizations have suggested some couples should receive preferential treatment. The China Center of Adoption Affairs decided to implement the recommendation and adopt a preferential system.

The preferential treatment will be provided to well-off couples composed of one man and one woman in a stable marriage, who are older than 30 and younger than 50 years old.

The new rules make it more difficult for overweight, single and economically precarious foreigners to adopt.

Lu Ying explained the policy adjustment will give adopted children, especially disabled children, better access to medical treatment and education. It will also save time and avoid anxiety for applicants and adoption organizations.