To authorize the establishment of a Regional China Officer Program Unit in the Department of State to monitor and assess the global presence of the People’s Republic of China and to help United States diplomatic and consular posts abroad address its malign influence and activities, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Meeks (for himself and Mr. Mackenzie) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill formally authorizes and expands the Regional China Officer (RCO) program within the Department of State. It creates a dedicated unit of at least 20 specialized Foreign Service Officers deployed to U.S. embassies and allied foreign ministries worldwide to monitor, report on, and counter activities of the People's Republic of China (PRC) that are deemed contrary to U.S. interests.
Who Benefits and How
The Department of State receives $3.75 million annually (2026-2030) to expand this program, including funds for public diplomacy activities. U.S. diplomatic missions gain specialized China expertise to better understand and respond to PRC economic, military, and development activities in their regions. Allied nations (NATO members and major non-NATO allies) benefit by receiving detailed intelligence and coordination support on Chinese activities affecting their countries, including Belt and Road Initiative projects.
Who Bears the Burden and How
U.S. taxpayers fund approximately $18.75 million over five years for this program. The Department of State must reorganize existing staff to create the Director position without adding new full-time positions, potentially straining current operations. The bill creates new reporting and coordination requirements for State Department personnel working on China-related matters.
Key Provisions
- Establishes the Regional China Officer Program Unit within the Office of China Coordination, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs
- Requires a minimum of 20 Regional China Officers with China expertise and Mandarin language skills
- Mandates at least 2 RCOs assigned to each of the seven regional bureaus (Africa, East Asia, Europe, International Organizations, Near East, South/Central Asia, Western Hemisphere)
- Authorizes $2.5 million annually for program expansion and $1.25 million annually for public diplomacy activities (fiscal years 2026-2030)
- Includes a 5-year sunset provision, after which the program requirement expires
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Establishes a Regional China Officer Program Unit within the Department of State to monitor, assess, and counter the global influence and activities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The program aims to enhance US diplomatic efforts by providing specialized expertise on PRC-related matters.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_director"
- → Director of the Regional China Officer Program Unit
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of State
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Congressional perspective emphasizing the global competition between the US and PRC, underscoring the need for monitoring and countering PRC malign activities that undermine US interests.
Congressional findings highlighting the growth and importance of the Regional China Officer (RCO) program, which assesses PRC activities and helps US diplomatic missions focus on key priorities.
Establishes a unit within the Office of China Coordination, Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs, comprising a Director and at least 20 Regional China Officers (RCOs) to monitor PRC activities in various domains.
Designates the bill as the Regional China Officer Authorization Act, emphasizing its focus on authorizing the establishment of a specialized unit to address PRC influence.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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