Top Biden China aide set for long-planned departure amid heightened tension with Beijing

A high Biden administration China skilled is ready to depart the administration after two years as particular assistant to the president and senior director for China and Taiwan, the White Home confirmed Wednesday.

Laura Rosenberger can be leaving her publish quickly, a White Home official confirmed to CNN, marking a high-profile departure as tense US-China relations have been exacerbated by the flight of a Chinese language surveillance balloon and different aerial objects of still-unknown origin.

Rosenberger, the official mentioned, has “performed a vital position in shaping US technique and coverage on China, working intently with the president, NSC management, the broader NSC group, and the interagency.”

Her departure was first reported by Bloomberg Information.

President Joe Biden has made strategic competitors with China a trademark of his presidency, often emphasizing his perception that the world is at an “inflection level” within the struggle between autocracies and democracies. After critical efforts to attempt to reset US-China relations, together with a gathering between Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping in Indonesia final November, the spy balloon episode has infected ties and can current speedy challenges to Rosenberger’s successor.

The balloon incident has finished “nothing to assist enhance US-China bilateral relations,” Nationwide Safety Council coordinator for strategic communications John Kirby instructed reporters final week.

The White Home official famous that Rosenberger’s exit plans “have lengthy been within the works and don’t have anything to do with the PRC spy balloon incident.”

Rosenberger can be succeeded in her place by Sarah Beran, who involves the NSC from the State Division, the place she was the senior director for China and Taiwan, the White Home official mentioned. Rush Doshi will function deputy senior director for China and Taiwan.

Rosenberger was additionally accountable throughout her time on the White Home for “(strengthening) our unofficial relations with Taiwan, broadening and deepening our engagement in line with our longstanding coverage,” the official mentioned. That tenure was marked by the White Home’s continued “strategic ambiguity” coverage, regardless of repeated remarks – adopted by immediate White Home walkbacks – from Biden that the US could be prepared to intervene militarily ought to China assault Taiwan.

“Beneath President Biden, we’re extra ready to outcompete China and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific than ever earlier than. Because the first day of the administration, Laura’s expert diplomacy and tenacity have been important to this administration precedence, and we’re immensely grateful for her service,” nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned in a press release Wednesday.

Rosenberger’s subsequent steps, the White Home official famous, “can be forthcoming.”