China-u.s. sister cities now seen as threats
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo‘s speech to governors last week included a dire warning of malicious Chinese intrusion into local government.
Among the perceived dangers: Lobbying of elected officials, attempts to lure away our brightest students and teaching grade-schoolers Chinese language and culture.
As Pompeo spoke to the National Governors Association on Feb. 8, he also mentioned an unlikely threat: sister city programs, whose purpose is to bridge differences and forge friendship and goodwill among everyday citizens.
“Chinese Communist Party officials, too, are cultivating relationships with county school board members and local politicians — often through what are known as sister cities programs,” Pompeo said.
Dozens of Ohio communities have sister-city relationships with villages and towns worldwide, according to the Washington-based Sister Cities International.
Four of them — Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and the state itself — are connected directly to Chinese municipalities. And others, such as Worthington, are connected indirectly through sister cities such as Sayama, Japan, which has its own programs in China.
And many view Pompeo’s concerns as contrary to the purpose of exchange programs: to build trust, not foment fear.
“Any time that there’s disputes or national political disagreements, there’s always a desire to improve relationships,” said Dean Suozzi-auberry, membership manager for Sister Cities International. There has been interest recently in partnerships with China, “especially at a time when there’s more conflict, especially with trade disputes.”
Pompeo called China’s actions “methodical in assessing our vulnerabilities and exploiting our freedoms.” He urged the governors to take the threat seriously.
Joe Hamrick, chairman of Cincinnati’s Cin-liu Sister City Committee, said the linkage with Liuzhou, China, already has been hurt by Trump administration policy.
For the past 30 years, the Chinese city has sent a team of educators to Cincinnati to help improve their ability to teach Chinese subject matter in English.
Last year was the first time the Chinese teachers were denied tourist visas for the five-month class.
“They basically put the kibosh on a wonderful program that won awards,” Hamrick said. He is now working with Ohio lawmakers to try to reinstate the program.
Hamrick, who has visited Liuzhou more than a dozen times, said he can’t imagine what, other than goodwill, the Chinese government would have taken.
“I don’t know what they would be stealing from us except normal (ideas of) citizenship and diplomacy.”
Instead of worrying about international espionage or Communist intrusion, Jayme Staley, executive director of Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, said her mission is grounded in peace.
It’s goal is “to promote cultural exchange and economic development opportunities between our region and our 10 sister cities,” she said.
The group is currently trying to assist its sister city of Hefei, China, and its 8 million residents as it battles the coronavirus COVID-19.
“We are proud of our work to help elevate Columbus and our region on the international stage.”