Regional China Officer Authorization Act

This bill mandates the establishment of a Regional China Officer Program Unit within the Department of State's Office of China Coordination. The unit's primary purpose is to monitor and assess the global presence and activities of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and to help United States diplomatic and consular posts abroad address its malign influence. The unit will be staffed by a Director and at least 20 forward-deployed Regional China Officers (RCOs) . These RCOs, selected for their expertise in PRC affairs and Mandarin proficiency, will be responsible for monitoring and reporting on PRC activities across various domains, including commercial, development, technology, and military. They will also advise U.S. embassy personnel, allies, and host countries on understanding and countering PRC actions globally and locally. The bill specifies that RCOs must be geographically placed with no fewer than two assigned to diplomatic posts associated with each of seven regional bureaus, ensuring broad coverage. To support these efforts, the Act authorizes appropriations of $2,500,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for program expansion and management, and an additional $1,250,000 annually for programs and public diplomacy activities. The requirement to maintain this program unit and the RCO program is set to expire five years after the Act's enactment. The bill defines "ally" as a NATO member country or a country designated as a major non-NATO ally.