• We want to express our grave concern over Bristol City Council’s partnership with China, and to call on the Council to sever its sister city agreement with Guangzhou. This global ‘DE-TWIN’ campaign is co-launched by more than 163 cities across 7 countries in Asia, America, Europe and Oceania.

The establishment of the sister city agreement was intended to be a diplomatic strategy to promote economic activities and cultural exchange, and it should be grounded on genuine exchanges for mutual benefits. However, many pieces of evidence suggest that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been reaping economic benefits from sister cities relationships across the United Kingdom, even as attempts to impose its authoritarian ideologies to expand its hegemony. 

The CCP regime repeatedly demonstrates that it is far from upholding the universal values we safeguard, and not adhering to international rules of conduct. Examples include but not limited to: the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre of pro-democracy protestors;  the ongoing Uyghur genocide and the implementation of ‘re-education camps’ (which is reminiscent of Nazi’s concentration camps during WWII) since 2014; the breach of ‘Sino-British Joint Declaration’ and violent suppression on Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019-2020; the persistent military threats against Taiwan; to most recently, supporting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. We urge Bristolians not to turn a blind eye on CCP’s totalitarian nature.

In Corporate Strategy 2022-2027, the Bristol City Council stated that Bristol would show global leadership in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which includes ‘Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”. We believe it is the right thing for the Council to sever its sister city agreement with Guangzhou to show its determination to condemn injustice, and thus take up the global leadership that it wishes to achieve.

The Bristol City Council must align with Bristol's values and stand in solidarity with those oppressed. This is a matter of safeguarding human rights. Also, it is critical in our national security efforts to protect our intellectual properties, economic interests, and the safety of our people. 

We hence urge the Bristol City Council to bring this important issue to the discussion table, to end China’s totalitarian infiltration of Bristol’s society using sister city agreement with Guangzhou.

Reference:

1. Global detwin with China

2. Uyghurs: China may have committed crimes against humanity in Xinjiang 

3. Hong Kong national security law: What is it and is it worrying​

4. Russia plays up China's support as it retreats in Ukraine

5. China-Taiwan: Why young people in Taiwan are learning to fight

6. Newcastle to sever ties with sister city in China over 'horrific' treatment of Uyghur Muslim