BEIJING, Nov 13: China has reiterated its strict prohibition on surrogacy, warning that individuals involved in organising such arrangements could face criminal prosecution and severe legal consequences amid a renewed crackdown on illegal assisted reproductive services.
National Health Commission spokesperson Yang Jinrui said on Friday that all forms of surrogacy remain prohibited in the country. He emphasised that organising or facilitating such arrangements violates ethical standards and would invite stringent legal action.
Yang also clarified that surrogacy agreements have no legal protection in China, adding that individuals participating in such activities could be held accountable under the law, according to state-run media reports.
The warning comes after authorities uncovered unauthorised facilities allegedly providing assisted reproductive services in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province in central China.
According to the Global Times, 21 individuals were detained during the investigation, while drugs allegedly used in the procedures were confiscated as part of the operation.
China introduced its nationwide ban on surrogacy in 2001, prohibiting medical institutions and healthcare professionals from carrying out procedures associated with the practice.
The National Health Commission has repeatedly raised concerns about the potential consequences of surrogacy, particularly its impact on women’s health, personal rights and dignity.
Authorities have argued that the practice risks turning women’s bodies into commercial commodities and treating them merely as instruments for childbirth.
The commission has also highlighted the medical dangers associated with unregulated reproductive procedures, including pregnancy-related complications, inadequate medical supervision and unsafe healthcare practices.
The latest warning signals China’s continued efforts to prevent illegal reproductive arrangements and strengthen oversight of services operating outside the country’s established healthcare regulations.