China Watcher Act
Bill: H.R.5760 | Sponsor: Rep. Tenney, Claudia (R-NY)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
China Watcher Act
This bill establishes the China Watcher Program within the Department of State.
The program must (1) monitor and combat China's malign influence in foreign countries, (2) monitor China's military trends abroad and counter its activities and advancements in foreign nations that pose a threat to U.S. interests and the rules-based order, and (3) strengthen U.S. government capacity to engage with foreign countries and international organizations to counter China's malign influence.
Under this program, the State Department must place officers in select U.S. diplomatic and consular posts to engage with Chinese and third-party nationals, as well as host governments and nongovernment entities, on the above-referenced matters.

To establish a program to monitor and combat the People's Republic of 
   China's malign influence across military, economic, and political 
         sectors in foreign countries, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``China Watcher Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHINA WATCHER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with 
relevant offices and bureaus of the Department of Defense, shall 
implement a program, to be known as the ``China Watcher Program'', 
within the Department of State to--
            (1) monitor and combat the People's Republic of China's 
        malign influence across military, economic, and political 
        sectors in foreign countries;
            (2) monitor the People's Republic of China's military 
        trends abroad and counter its activities and advancements in 
        foreign nations that pose a threat to United States interests 
        and the rules-based order; and
            (3) strengthen the capacity of United States Government to 
        engage with foreign countries and regional and international 
        military, economic, and political organizations and 
        institutions relating to policy coordination regarding the 
        People's Republic of China and efforts to counter the People's 
        Republic of China's malign influence.
    (b) Placement.--
            (1) In general.--In carrying out the China Watcher Program 
        under this section, the Secretary of State, in consultation 
        with the Secretary of Defense, shall place officers in 
        positions in select United States diplomatic and consular 
        posts, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to engage 
        both Chinese and third-country nationals, including host 
        governments and non-government entities, on the matters 
        described in subsection (a).
            (2) Priority.--The Secretary of State shall--
                    (A) in selecting diplomatic and consular posts, 
                prioritize foreign countries in which Chinese influence 
                has been historically significant and in which United 
                States interests and persons are vulnerable to the 
                People's Republic of China's malign activities; and
                    (B) in placing personnel in such posts, select, in 
                consultation with the Secretary of Defense, personnel 
                within either the Department of State or the Department 
                of Defense who have sufficient subject matter 
                expertise, language skills, and training to carry out 
                their functions effectively.
    (c) Annual Report.--
            (1) In general.--Each post or mission with a China Watcher 
        Program shall produce an annual report outlining the steps it 
        has taken to advance the mission, trends and analysis, and the 
        nature and extent of Chinese foreign direct investment and 
        influence in key military, economic, and political sectors, 
        including technology, manufacturing, transportation, energy, 
        metals, agriculture, real estate, and defense.
            (2) Matters to be included.--Such report shall include an 
        assessment of the investment, trade, and other risks posed by 
        Chinese malign influence as well as instances of predatory 
        actions by the People's Republic of China or its affiliates.
    (d) Risk Assessment.--The annual report required by subsection (c) 
shall include a risk assessment which shall be made publicly available. 
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, 
shall, based on the results of such report, make publicly available a 
list of countries of concern in regard to the likelihood of economic 
espionage and coercion or influence of the People's Republic of China 
across military, economic, and political sectors.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year 
thereafter to carry out this section.
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