China View: Quanzhou Sets The First Autism Care Regulation.
In 2025, the Chinese Mechanical Technician College advised two enrolled students to withdraw due to their autism, sparking widespread social debate. This year, on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day, the Fujian Provincial Government enacted the country's first local regulation on care services for children with autism, titled "Quanzhou City Autism Care Service Promotion Regulation." Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that appears at birth or in early childhood, caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Its symptoms typically include social communication deficits, narrow interests, and repetitive, stereotyped behaviors, significantly affecting the child's social adaptability and quality of life. Children with autism are often referred to as "children of the stars."
In China, there are over 13 million people with autism, accounting for 7% of the population. The government of Quanzhou City in Fujian Province has elevated assistance for children with autism to a regulatory system, aiming to institutionalize the diagnosis of autism, establish systematic rehabilitation education, and provide a replicable and scalable model of care for children with autism nationwide, known as the "Quanzhou Plan."
What's the prevalence of autism in China?
Autism is ranked first among mental disabilities in China, with a golden intervention period of two to five years of age. According to Dr. Cui Yonghua, the head of the Psychiatry Department at Beijing Children's Hospital, autism spectrum disorders are divided into typical autism and atypical autism. Typical autism is more severe; children with it are completely immersed in their world and demonstrate an aversion to traditional communication with others. In contrast, atypical autism includes high-functioning autism. Children with atypical autism would like to communicate with the outside world but face challenges in doing so, which can lead to frustration and social isolation as they struggle to express their needs and emotions effectively. In Chinese rural regions lacking child psychiatrists, autism is easily misdiagnosed as developmental delays, schizophrenia, ADHD, depression, or anxiety. Nevertheless, autism impacts interpersonal relationships, which can lead to significant challenges in social interactions and communication skills for affected children, making it difficult for them to form friendships and engage in group activities.
According to a 2020 research report, China has a population of 14 billion, with as many as 700,000 children aged 6-12 diagnosed with autism. Furthermore, children with autism in the nation have long been deprived of timely assistance from parents and the government due to the unequal distribution of medical and educational resources. This month, however, the government of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, took the lead in issuing regulations aimed at helping children with autism, marking the first step towards legalizing standardized assistance for autistic children across China.
Why Did China Take So Long To Establish The Promotion Of Care Services For Children With Autism?
Wang Yonghong, Vice President of the Fujian Psychological Counselling and Health Education Research Association, said that Quanzhou's new rules for autism care in children (the first in the country) bring changes to social systems and legal support, creating a network for "early detection, reduced anxiety, and reliable support" for children with autism and their families.
Quanzhou has included autism screening and intervention services for children ages 0–6 in its livelihood projects for four consecutive years, providing screening services for over 1.23 million eligible children. Since 2023, Quanzhou has established a three-tier screening and diagnosis network at the municipal, county, and township levels, with 13 medical institutions obtaining qualifications for diagnosing autism in children and 24 medical and health institutions offering autism medical rehabilitation or training services. It is worth noting that "Regulations on the Promotion of Care and Services for Children with Autism" clearly states that any unit or individual who infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of children with autism shall bear legal responsibility according to the law. Quanzhou holds significant importance in demonstrating and leading its role as a "pioneer region for national action to promote the care of children with autism."
Since 2023, Quanzhou has innovatively raised over $16.7 million in funds for the project, adhering to a combination of financial guidance and social fundraising. From that year on, Quanzhou has carried out screenings for children aged 0-6, forming a comprehensive network for screening, diagnosis, and rehabilitation.
Conclusion
The "Development Report on the Education and Rehabilitation Industry for Autism in China" projects that China may have over 10 million autism patients, including two million aged 0-14, with an annual increase of nearly 200,000. Quanzhou City in Fujian Province, as one of the most advanced and open cities in Fujian, promulgated the "Quanzhou City Autism Children's Care Service Promotion Regulations" this year. This not only provides legal assistance to children with autism but also sets a precedent, serving as a model for other cities in Fujian Province and provinces across China.
