The South China Morning Post reported that official notices might be sent as early as Friday to American ambassadors at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and consular authorities in mainland China and Hong Kong. Personnel in diplomatic missions in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, and Hong Kong would be affected by the reduction. It is still unknown, though, if the impacted workers would be moved to different areas.
Significant Reduction in the U.S. Embassy in China
The drop may be the largest to the U.S. diplomatic representation in China since formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China were established in 1979, according to reports that called the reduction “significant.”
According to reports, the cut is a component of a larger Trump administration effort to reorganize American diplomatic operations across the globe. There have apparently been 60 contractor layoffs at the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor in recent weeks, and more layoffs are anticipated in other agencies.
The action comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to begin a thorough reform of the foreign service. U.S. ambassadors are required by the order to make sure that Trump’s foreign policy program is “faithfully and effectively implemented.” Additionally, it states that noncompliance with the president’s orders may lead to disciplinary action or termination.
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission Has New Leadership
Trump has vowed to fire federal workers he believes to be disloyal and has often stressed the importance of coordinating U.S. foreign policy with his “America First” philosophy. Trump stopped the majority of U.S. foreign aid within hours after taking office on January 20, stating that it must be in line with the interests of his administration.
Trump has appointed former Republican Senator David Perdue as the next U.S. ambassador to China as part of the diplomatic shuffle. Perdue has a commercial background and has worked in Asia, unlike his predecessor, Nicholas Burns, who was a seasoned career diplomat. Although the Senate has yet to ratify his appointment, given the Republican majority in the body, strong opposition is not expected.
Last month, Sarah Beran, a former National Security Council staff special assistant for China affairs, also took over as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.
The three-year term of U.S. Consul General Gregory May in Hong Kong is coming to an end. Before and during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, his subordinate, David Schlaefer, was a senior assistance coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
Effects of the Reshuffle
A strategic change in Washington’s foreign policy stance in the face of ongoing economic disputes and geopolitical concerns is highlighted by the reduction of the U.S. diplomatic staff in China. The action reaffirms the administration’s commitment to a “America First” foreign policy approach while indicating its intention to expedite diplomatic efforts. It is unclear what the long-term effects of this reduction will be, especially in light of the ongoing political and economic tensions and the evolving U.S.-China relationship.
