U.S. plans to cut its diplomatic mission in China by up to 10%, reports the South China Morning Post

The United States is poised to reduce the size of its diplomatic mission in China by as much as 10%, according to a report from the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on Wednesday, which cited sources familiar with the matter.

American diplomats stationed in mainland China and Hong Kong, along with local staff, may receive notifications as early as Friday regarding this unprecedented downsizing. The reductions are expected to impact the embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, and Hong Kong, as reported by SCMP.

It remains uncertain whether any of those affected will be reassigned within the diplomatic service, although layoffs are anticipated. Two sources informed Reuters that the leadership of the mission to China had communicated to embassy personnel that they were “refuting” the report. Embassy representatives did not provide immediate comments, and the U.S. State Department had no immediate response.

The administration of President Donald Trump has instructed U.S. embassies globally to prepare for staff reductions, as part of the Republican president’s initiative to reform the U.S. diplomatic corps, according to sources who spoke to Reuters last week.

Since taking office on January 20, Trump and his billionaire associate Elon Musk have been working to eliminate what they perceive as unnecessary government expenditures. The United States maintains a significant diplomatic presence in China, with the Beijing embassy situated on a 10-acre compound that includes six buildings, one of which was completed in 2016. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China website indicates that the Beijing embassy complex accommodates over 1,300 American and locally employed staff from nearly 50 different U.S. federal agencies.