House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar have introduced the Washington Sister Cities Act. The legislation aims to prevent the District of Columbia from establishing or maintaining sister city relationships with foreign adversarial regimes, including China.
The bill specifically targets the longstanding Washington, D.C.-Beijing sister city relationship, which marked its 40th anniversary last year. It also addresses potential partnerships with countries such as North Korea, Russia, and Iran.
“The Chinese Communist Party has weaponized so-called ‘sister city’ partnerships to advance their malign disinformation campaign in Washington,” stated Chairwoman Stefanik. “I am proud to introduce critical legislation to terminate the D.C. government sister city relationship with Beijing, China which poses a threat to U.S. national security.”
Chairman Moolenaar highlighted concerns about human rights conditions under China’s rule: “Among all countries with which Washington, D.C. has sister city partnerships, China is uniquely marked by worsening human rights conditions.”
The act follows a letter sent earlier this month by Chairman Moolenaar and GOP Members of the China Select Committee to D.C. Mayor Bowser, urging reconsideration of the city’s partnership with Beijing.
Sister cities are traditionally meant to foster cultural ties; however, there are concerns that these relationships are managed by China’s United Front Work Department for influence and intelligence purposes.
Washington, D.C., as the nation’s capital, is urged to uphold American values and principles without ties that may compromise them.
