Risch: State Department Needed to Make Key Changes to Improve ‘China House’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the State Department’s decision to make changes to its ‘China House’ plan based on feedback the senator provided:

“China is our highest foreign policy priority, and the Department of State must be organized appropriately for that challenge. After several months of discussions regarding my concerns about ‘China House,’ I am pleased the Department made every change I requested. These changes will ensure that prioritization of China stays where it belongs – at the highest levels of the Department. They also clarify and improve how China House will function in its coordination and facilitation role.

“While there are other challenges to effective coordination of China policy, I hope these changes improve the effectiveness of China House and lead to tangible policy improvements. However, there is still a lot more work to be done to ensure the State Department and the rest of the U.S. government are prepared for long term-strategic competition with China. I will continue to conduct rigorous oversight of China House and other China-related initiatives throughout the State Department to ensure we are ready to meet that challenge.”

Key affirmations and changes to China House included:

• The Department of State affirmed that the PRC Strategy Group led by the deputy secretary will provide leadership and direction on China – and that ‘China House’ does not replace that high-level prioritization.
• The Department of State will not delegate authorities to unconfirmed officials that should rightfully remain with Senate-confirmed officials.
• China House will not subsume or change authorities already in U.S. law, such as authorities related to the Global Engagement Center on countering disinformation.
• The Department of State changed the reviewing and rating process for liaisons from other parts of the State Department working in China House to ensure a fair process and prevent a bureaucratic power grab by any one bureau.

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