WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in sending a letter to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on the status of the District’s Sister City relationship with Beijing after the agreement was removed from the city’s website in August without any formal announcement.
“We are writing to inquire about the District’s Sister City relationship with Beijing, China. Earlier this year, Washington, D.C. was listed as having an active sister city agreement with Beijing on the official D.C. Office of the Secretary website. However, as of August, the publicized list no longer includes Beijing. Given the national security implications, we believe it is important to ensure that all formal and informal agreements between U.S. and foreign municipalities are not exploited by foreign governments—particularly the People’s Republic of China—as vehicles to advance soft-power objectives, disseminate propaganda, or suppress dissenting voices,” wrote the Senators.
Sens. Tuberville and Blackburn were joined by Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Rick Scott (R-FL) in sending the letter.
Read full text of the letter below or here.
“Dear Mayor Bowser,
We write to inquire about the District’s sister city relationship with Beijing, China. Earlier this year, Washington, D.C. was listed as having an active sister city agreement with Beijing on the official D.C. Office of the Secretary website.1 However, as of August, the publicized list no longer includes Beijing. Given the national security implications, we believe it is important to ensure that all formal and informal agreements between U.S. and foreign municipalities are not exploited by foreign governments—particularly the People’s Republic of China—as vehicles to advance soft-power objectives, disseminate propaganda, or suppress dissenting voices. We are certain you share our commitment to protecting U.S. communities from potential foreign influence and safeguarding American interests.
To that end, we request information on the following:
(1) whether the District’s sister city agreement with Beijing has been formally terminated or merely suspended;
(2) a copy of any memorandum of understanding, contract, or agreement—past or present— between the District of Columbia and any Chinese governmental entity, including the City of Beijing; and
(3) whether the District is currently reviewing or reassessing other international partnerships to ensure mitigation against potential risks.
We look forward to your prompt response. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.
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