Republican lawmakers push for greater scrutiny of Chinese ‘sister cities’ in US
Samantha-Jo Roth
Video Embed
Republicans in Congress want to further investigate how China could be using “sister cities” to spy on the United States and examine partnerships with foreign adversaries.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is championing a bill, along with four other Republican senators, that would require the Government Accountability Office to issue a report in an effort to understand how China could use sister-city partnerships in the U.S. to spy or gain influence. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is also introducing companion legislation in the lower chamber.
HOUSE CHINA COMMITTEE TO ENGAGE IN TABLETOP WAR GAME EXERCISE
“We need to take proper action and have the GAO do a deep dive into what is happening with these partnerships and these programs that are involving foreign communities in countries where we have adverse relationships,” Blackburn told the Washington Examiner in an interview. “We should look at how we should manage these sister city partnerships, which is important for us to do to protect our nation and to protect our sovereignty.”
A “sister city” is a relationship established between two communities in two different countries after officials from both nations make an agreement. The U.S. has 1,800 of these partnerships with 138 countries. According to the latest numbers from 2019, there are 157 partnerships with China. That includes Houston, a sister city with Shenzhen, China; Seattle, a sister city with Chongqing, China; and Washington, D.C., a sister city with Beijing.
Blackburn introduced the bill in the last session of Congress, but it never moved out of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. She said she believes there’s more urgency to pass the bill now as a result of growing Chinese military aggression.
China has been engaged in more saber-rattling against Taiwan, including when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island democracy. A Chinese spy balloon flew over the U.S. earlier this year. And this week, two were arrested after they allegedly operated a Chinese police station in New York.
“I think there is growing concern over what China is doing. Thereby, you’re going to see bipartisan support for this to continue to grow,” Blackburn said. “We know the Chinese Communist Party has said they will use the sister-city partnerships to build relationships with people that they feel will run for higher offices someday in the future.”
Canadian officials in Winnipeg, Manitoba, considered splitting ties with its Chinese sister city, Chengdu, over concerns about human rights abuses in the country earlier this year. Ultimately, the mayor decided to continue the relationship, emphasizing the partnership does not mean it supports the Chinese government.
Shanghai terminated its sister-city partnership with Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, in early 2020 after Prague’s mayor refused to commit to the CCP’s “One China” policy, which aims to recognize Taiwan as part of China.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“They use these relationships to paint their picture of China, instead of actually reflecting history or reflecting what is currently happening,” the Tennessee senator said.
If enacted, the legislation would identify “oversight practices that U.S. communities implement to mitigate the risks of foreign espionage and economic coercion within sister-city partnerships,” assess how “foreign communities could use sister-city partnerships to conduct malign activities,” and review best practices for sister-city partnerships to “ensure transparency,” according to Blackburn’s office.