US to axe China-based diplomats to cut size of mission by 10%: sources

The United States is set to cut the size of its diplomatic mission in China by up to 10 per cent, according to people familiar with the situation.

US diplomats working in mainland China and Hong Kong as well as local employees might be given notice as early as Friday in an unprecedented round of downsizing, the Post has learned.

Two sources with knowledge of the matter said the cuts would affect the embassy in Beijing and the consulates in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang and Wuhan, as well as the consulate in Hong Kong. Both sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

It was not clear whether any of those affected would be reassigned elsewhere in the diplomatic service, but lay-offs are expected.

Describing the downsizing as “substantial”, one source said it was probably the first major downsizing of the US diplomatic team in China since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic in 1979.

A second source said the State Department’s instruction to downsize came last week. He added that affected employees may be contacted by the end of the week to be told the details of their severance package and last day of work.