U.S. State Dept Launches “China House” To Counter Beijing’s Threats

According to the U.S. State Department, on December 16, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken presided over the launch of the new Office of China Coordination, informally known as China House. “China House will ensure the U.S. government is able to responsibly manage our competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and advance our vision for an open, inclusive international system. Our goal in creating China House is to help deliver on elements of the Administration’s approach to the PRC.” says Secretary Blinken. “China House” from the State Department will bring together a group of China experts from throughout the Department to work shoulder to shoulder with colleagues from every regional bureau and experts in international security, economics, technology, multilateral diplomacy, and strategic communications. It will serve the entire Department and is a cross-departmental integrated team of the U.S. State Department. It will coordinate and implement U.S. policy across issues and across regions, replacing the China Desk in the State Department’s East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau. The new entity will employ roughly 60 to 70 personnel, including liaisons from other parts of the department such as the Africa and Latin America bureaus, as well as special talents from other U.S. departments and agencies who may focus on topics such as technology or economic policy. It is designed to eliminate information silos between redundant government agencies, allowing U.S. officials to share information and develop policy toward China, both within and outside of a unified information exchange system.