Blinken’s China expert: Respected veteran who understands the ‘real regime’

Secretary of State Antony Blinken Turns to Mark Lambert to Lead Diplomatic Office on China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to appoint Mark Lambert, a seasoned diplomat known for his ability to rally allies against threats from China, as a key leader in ⁤a newly established ‌diplomatic office aimed at coordinating State ⁢Department policy towards the communist ⁤power.

“He brings a lot of expertise to the position, great understanding of the ⁣true ‌nature of the China‌ regime,” a longtime Korea watcher who ‍discussed Lambert on condition of anonymity told ⁢the Washington ​Examiner. “He’ll be a stalwart defender of U.S. policy and U.S. values. So, choosing him for the ‌position is a very wise one, and he will be very helpful in forwarding ⁢U.S. strategic objectives.”

A ‍prominent role in the Office of China Coordination, also known‍ as⁣ “China House,” will be ⁤a familiar undertaking for Lambert, who ⁢currently serves as the lead deputy assistant secretary for Japanese affairs, Korean affairs, Mongolian affairs, ​and several other​ Indo-Pacific countries. Lambert has gained the trust of both Republicans and Democrats as he works⁣ towards expanding a U.S.-led coalition to counter the combined challenge posed ⁤by China and ⁢Russia.

“We have never seen a threat this large [of a] scale to Europe and the Pacific, I would argue, since World ​War II,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said Friday while traveling in Sweden.

Lambert​ has dedicated the past ‍few years of his career to​ addressing the challenges posed by China. As a career foreign⁣ service officer, he has served two diplomatic tours in Beijing and has also worked in ‌three other Asian ‍countries. ​Lambert’s experience includes serving‍ as​ a political counselor in Vietnam under then-Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink,⁢ who ‌currently holds a senior position in the State Department ‍for East ⁤Asia and Pacific Affairs. More ⁢recently, Lambert has focused on strengthening U.S. relations with​ Japan and South Korea, two crucial allies in the American alliance⁤ network who have ​made significant strides in cooperation.

“We are talking ⁣with our ‍friends and partners, including the Republic of Korea, to make sure that we’re very sober-eyed ⁤about the situation in the PRC,” Lambert said ‍in a December⁢ appearance on a Center for Strategy ⁤and International Studies podcast. “Our two closest allies at all‍ levels seem to⁤ be dedicated to coming up with an arrangement that will allow them ⁤to move‍ forward. I’m cautioned more than cautiously optimistic ​that their wisdom will prevail and they will come through with some sort ⁣of agreement sometime in the near future.”

Lambert’s optimistic forecast was validated by a historic summit last month, where President Joe Biden⁢ hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President ⁣Yoon Suk ⁤Yeol at Camp David. This effort to mend fences aligns with Lambert’s‌ previous work in⁢ Hanoi, where he played a key role in devising a South China Sea maritime strategy and significantly improving U.S. relations with Vietnam.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who declared that “Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the ‌South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is ⁣its campaign of bullying to control​ them,” appointed Lambert as a special envoy for North Korea and a special envoy for United ⁣Nations integrity. The latter role involved ‍countering Chinese‍ Communist influence at ⁢the United Nations, including preventing China’s nominee ‍from leading the World Intellectual Property Organization.

While Reuters reported Lambert’s appointment, the State Department has not yet confirmed the personnel move publicly, and the specific division of responsibilities between Lambert and Kritenbrink remains unclear. Lambert is expected to replace⁢ his former colleague, Rick Waters, who stepped down as head of “China House” in May and subsequently left the foreign service.

“Having someone like Mark who is well versed in working with our allies, as well as his deep expertise on North Korea and China, I think will be an effective combination,” the longtime Korea watcher‍ told the Washington Examiner.

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