Office of China Coordination
![]() Seal of the United States Department of State | |
Office overview | |
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Formed | 2022 |
Employees | 60–70[1] |
Office executive |
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Parent department | U.S. Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs |
The Office of China Coordination (OCC), informally known as China House, is a unit of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the U.S. State Department that coordinates information-sharing and policy towards the People's Republic of China.[1][2]
History
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Secretary_Blinken_and_Deputy_Secretary_Sherman_Participate_in_the_Launch_Event_for_the_Office_of_China_Coordination_%2852567067691%29.jpg/220px-Secretary_Blinken_and_Deputy_Secretary_Sherman_Participate_in_the_Launch_Event_for_the_Office_of_China_Coordination_%2852567067691%29.jpg)
The OCC replaced the China Desk of Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in December 2022.[1] The office has between 60 and 70 employees, including people detailed from other departments on topics such as international security, economics, technology, multilateral diplomacy, and strategic communication.[1][3][4] The reorganization, launched by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, was described as a centerpiece of the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts in a global rivalry between the United States and China.[1][2]
Officials told Politico that the OCC would eliminate some silos among redundant government bodies and streamline policymaking.[1] Politico described it as analogous to the Central Intelligence Agency's China Mission Center, in that both entities would be hubs for directing funding, resources and personnel.[1] Before the reorganization, some former State Department officials had voiced concerns about adding another layer of bureaucracy, and a spokesperson for Republican Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho called the OCC a "bureaucratic power grab".[5][1] Risch held up the reorganization for some months until his concerns were allayed.[1]
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/China_Coordinator_Waters_Delivers_Remarks_at_a_Launch_Event_for_the_Office_of_China_Coordination_%2852566618697%29.jpg/220px-China_Coordinator_Waters_Delivers_Remarks_at_a_Launch_Event_for_the_Office_of_China_Coordination_%2852566618697%29.jpg)
In May 2023, Reuters reported "morale problems" at the OCC potentially stemming from lack of prioritization of China issues from State Department leadership, and that then-OCC Chief Rick Waters (who subsequently joined the Eurasia Group as managing director for China)[6] will be stepping down from the post.[7][8] In September 2023, the State Department announced Waters will be succeeded by Mark Baxter Lambert, confirming WSJ's August 2023 reporting citing unnamed sources familiar with the decision.[9][10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Toosi, Nahal, and Phelim Kine (December 16, 2022). "Biden launches 'China House' to counter Beijing's growing clout." Politico. Archived from the original.
- ^ a b Gans, Jared (December 17, 2022). "State Department launches 'China House' to coordinate policy on Beijing." The Hill. Archived from the original.
- ^ Staff writer (December 16, 2022). "US State Department Launches Office of China Coordination." Voice of America. Archived from the original.
- ^ Office of the Spokesperson (December 16, 2022). "Secretary Blinken Launches the Office of China Coordination" (press release). U.S. State Department. Archived from the original.
- ^ Kine, Phelim (June 2, 2022). "CIA and State's new China centers risk bureaucratic boondoggle". Politico. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ Martina, Michael (August 1, 2023). "Former top State Department China official joins Eurasia Group". Reuters. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Martina, Michael (May 11, 2023). "Why the US delayed China sanctions after shooting down a spy balloon". Reuters. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Martina, Michael; Pamuk, Humeyra; Pamuk, Humeyra (May 25, 2023). "US State Department's top China policy official to step down". Reuters. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Introduction of New China Coordinator and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert". United States Department of State. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Lin, Liza. "State Department Set to Name New Top China Policy Official". WSJ. Retrieved October 3, 2023.