US to cut diplomatic staff in China
The "significant" cuts are expected to affect both diplomatic staff in the US and China, and are part of President Trump's efforts to overhaul diplomatic corps around the world.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) on February 20 quoted sources familiar with the situation as saying that the US plans to cut the size of its diplomatic mission in China by 10%.
The cuts will affect the embassy in Beijing and consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan, as well as the consulate in Hong Kong, sources said. According to SCMP, diplomatic staff could receive relevant notices as early as this Friday (February 21).
“This could be the first major reduction in the US diplomatic staff in China since the US established formal diplomatic relations with China in 1979,” SCMP quoted one of the sources as saying, calling the upcoming reduction “significant”.
The publication's sources added that the upcoming cuts are part of the White House's efforts to reorganize the US diplomatic corps around the world.
Earlier, on February 11, sources close to the matter told Reuters that President Donald Trump's administration had asked US embassies around the world to prepare for staff cuts. Accordingly, some embassies were asked to consider cutting 10% of US staff as well as staff from the host country.
According to the National Museum of US Foreign Affairs, the country's embassies around the world employ both diplomatic staff and local workers.
About 60 contractors at the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor have been laid off in recent weeks, and more cuts are likely at other agencies, a US official said.
The US State Department said in a statement that it does not comment on internal personnel matters.
“The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people,” the spokesperson said.
The moves come as President Trump attempts to restructure his diplomatic team, issuing an executive order on February 12 directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reform the foreign service to ensure the "faithful and effective implementation" of Mr. Trump's foreign policy agenda.
The order, which follows efforts to dismantle the US Agency for International Development, comes as President Trump makes changes to ensure US foreign policy aligns with his “America First” agenda. He has also repeatedly pledged to “clean up the deep state” by firing officials he deems disloyal.