H.R. 5329 authorizes the State Department to formally establish and expand its Regional China Officer Program, which currently has 20 officers stationed worldwide to monitor Chinese government activities and help U.S. embassies counter what Congress views as malign Chinese influence. The bill requires the Secretary of State to appoint a Director for the program within 90 days and ensures at least two Regional China Officers are placed in each geographic region of the State Department's operations, with officers selected for their China expertise and Mandarin language skills. The legislation authorizes $2.5 million annually from 2026 through 2030 to expand and manage the program, plus an additional $1.25 million yearly to support related public diplomacy activities. The program itself will expire five years after the law's enactment unless Congress reauthorizes it. The bill aims to strengthen U.S. capacity to track and respond to Chinese activities in trade, infrastructure, technology, and military domains, particularly China's Belt and Road Initiative.
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