(Des Moines, IA) -- A U.S. House committee chairman is urging the City of Des Moines to end its "sister city" relationship with Shijiazhuang, China, and to cease all engagement with groups linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The recommendation came in a letter sent to Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen from John Moolenaar, the chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP.
The letter raises specific concerns about a recent, all-expenses-paid trip to China for the Roosevelt High School gospel choir. The committee says the trip's sponsor, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), front group for the Chinese government that pushes propaganda and malign influence.
The letter also notes that requiring students to download the WeChat app raises surveillance concerns. In a response, City Manager Scott Sanders stated the Sister Cities Commission operates independently but that the city is reviewing the committee’s recommendations and will consider appropriate steps.
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