US-China sister-city project, meant to build bridges, targeted as the two countries spar

After a state law in Indiana barred new partnerships, two cities with ties to Xiangyang take opposite approaches

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Published: 12:01am, 10 Aug 2024Updated: 1:09am, 11 Aug 2024

They’re an hour apart and shared the same Chinese sister city. But two US Midwestern locales have taken markedly different approaches as pressure mounts to cut ties with China.

Once seen as benign, subnational partnerships face growing opposition, with the state of Indiana the first to pass a law barring, effective July 1, new sister-city partnerships with China.

Carmel, with a population of 101,000, ended its relationship with Xiangyang, an industrial city in northwestern Hubei province. “The Chinese Communist Party will have no influence over the city,” Mayor Sue Finkam said.

Sixty-five miles (103km) away, 51,000-population Columbus held firm. “The intent and the purpose was to create a much broader understanding between two different cultures,” said Mayor Mary Ferdon. “That’s really important.”

Mayor Mary Ferdon of Columbus, Indiana, supports the sister-city affiliation with Xiangyang, China. Photo: Handout

The opposite approaches underscore diplomatic battles being fought city by city. Once a welcome source of jobs and investment, US-Chinese partnerships connecting cities, counties, states and provinces face growing US scepticism as bilateral relations tank and four in five Americans surveyed view China unfavourably.

On the national level, US Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, and Representative Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, have introduced the Sister City Transparency Act, which would review all subnational partnerships on national security grounds.