Regional China Officer Authorization Act
The Regional China Officer Authorization Act would create a new Regional China Officer Program Unit within the State Department’s Office of China Coordination (part of the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs). The unit would be staffed by a Director plus at least 20 forward-deployed Foreign Service Officers (RCOs) tasked with monitoring and reporting on the PRC’s activities across multiple domains (commerce, development, finance, infrastructure, technology, and military), including projects tied to initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Development Initiative. RCOs would advise U.S. embassy personnel, allies, partners, and host countries on how to understand and address PRC activities regionally and locally. The Secretary of State would appoint the Director within 90 days of enactment, but the bill specifies that creating this position must not increase total full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in the Department. The bill also authorizes funding (FY2026–2030) to expand and support the program and sets a five-year sunset for the unit, after which the program would expire unless renewed. The term “ally” is limited to NATO members or major non-NATO allies as defined in U.S. law.
Key Points
- 1Creation and purpose of the Regional China Officer Program Unit: Establishes a dedicated unit within the Office of China Coordination to monitor, assess, and counter PRC global influence and activities, and to assist U.S. diplomatic posts and partners.
- 2Staffing and duties: The unit will include a Director and not fewer than 20 Regional China Officers (RCOs) assigned to U.S. posts or detailed to allied foreign ministries; RCOs monitor PRC activities across multiple domains (commercial, development, finance, infrastructure, technology, military) and advise on responses.
- 3Director appointment and constraints: A Director will be appointed within 90 days of enactment from among career Foreign Service members; the position must not increase overall Department FTEs; the Director coordinates and oversees RCOs, improves responsiveness to PRC activities, and manages hiring.
- 4RCO qualifications and geographic distribution: RCOs must have expertise on the PRC and Mandarin language skills; at least two RCOs must be assigned to U.S. posts in each of the seven specified bureaus (African Affairs; East Asian and Pacific Affairs; European and Eurasian Affairs; International Organization Affairs; Near Eastern Affairs; South and Central Asian Affairs; Western Hemisphere Affairs).
- 5Funding and programs: Annual appropriations for FY2026–2030 include $2.5 million to expand the RCO program (including support at allied foreign ministries and one Locally Employed Staff per region) and $1.25 million for program activities and up to $50,000 per RCO for public diplomacy efforts; funds are available until expended and are in addition to existing counter-PRC funds.
- 6Sunset and ally definition: The program and unit would expire five years after enactment unless renewed; “ally” covers NATO members and major non-NATO allies as defined by statute.