Republican lawmakers are calling for an investigation into how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) may be using “sister cities” to “push their geopolitical objectives” and spy on the United States.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the “Sister City Transparency Act” alongside Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) on April 19.
A “sister city” is a relationship or long-term partnership between two communities in two countries. Such a relationship is officially recognized through an agreement between the highest elected or appointed officials from both communities.
Under Blackburn’s bill (pdf), the Government Accountable Office (GAO) would be required to make a report evaluating the activities of so-called “sister city partnerships” operating in the United States if the foreign communities receive a score of 45 or less on Transparency International’s 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index….