Regional China Officer Authorization Act
The Regional China Officer Authorization Act would create a new Regional China Officer Program Unit inside the State Department’s Office of China Coordination (within the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs). The unit would be led by a Director and staffed by at least 20 Regional China Officers (RCOs) deployed to U.S. posts or to allied foreign ministries. RCOs would monitor and report on PRC (People’s Republic of China) activities across multiple domains (including commerce, development, finance, critical infrastructure, technology, and military) and advise U.S. diplomats, partners, and host countries on how to understand and address PRC activities. The bill sets staffing and geographic distribution rules, outlines appointment and programmatic duties for the Director, and authorizes multi-year funding (2026–2030) to expand and operate the program, with a five-year sunset. It also defines “ally” for purposes of the program as NATO members or certain major non-NATO allies.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and purpose: Creates the Regional China Officer Program Unit within the Office of China Coordination to monitor PRC global presence and help U.S. diplomatic posts counter PRC influence and activities.
- 2Structure and staffing: The unit would include a Director and at least 20 Regional China Officers (RCOs) who are forward-deployed at U.S. posts or detailed to allied foreign ministries; RCOs monitor PRC activity and advise on how to respond.
- 3Director appointment and staffing limits: A Director would be appointed within 90 days of enactment from among Foreign Service career members, with a provision that the Director’s appointment does not increase overall Federal Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions.
- 4Qualifications and placement: RCOs must have PRC-related expertise (including experience with China, Taiwan, Hong Kong) and Mandarin proficiency; at least two RCOs must be assigned to posts for each of seven regional 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 authorization:
- 6- $2.5 million per year (2026–2030) to expand the RCO program and support management, including one locally employed staff position in each geographic region.
- 7- $1.25 million per year (2026–2030) for programs and activities, with up to $50,000 per RCO for public diplomacy and related activities.
- 8- Funds remain available until expended and are in addition to amounts for the Countering PRC Influence Fund.
- 9Sunset: The program and unit would sunset five years after enactment, ending unless renewed.
- 10Ally definition: For purposes of the bill, an ally means (1) NATO member countries or (2) countries designated as a major non-NATO ally under the Foreign Assistance Act.