East Michigan News

This week, Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker urging her to cancel an official flag-raising ceremony for the People's Republic of China. The event was scheduled to take place in Philadelphia, a city known as the birthplace of American independence.

Moolenaar expressed concern about raising the Chinese Communist Party's Five-Star Red Flag in Philadelphia. He stated, "The city where America declared independence and that all people have the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, should not raise the flag of an authoritarian regime represented by the Chinese Communist Party, which denies those freedoms to its own people. Raising the flag of the People's Republic of China over Philadelphia is a disgrace to our nation’s founding values and flies in the face of all the courageous dissidents and human rights advocates who tirelessly work to bring freedom to the Chinese people."

He further explained his opposition by referencing human rights abuses: "The Five-Star Red Flag, embodying the totalitarian government led by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), represents a regime that is persecuting spiritual people of all faiths, including the genocide of Uyghur Muslims. It is a government that actively subsidizes the precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, which has killed or harmed millions of Americans. It is a Communist Party-State that is diametrically opposed to American values and working to undermine our interests worldwide. The city government of Philadelphia should cancel the raising of the national flag of a foreign adversary country," writes Moolenaar in his letter.

Moolenaar also addressed concerns about United Front organizations operating in U.S. cities. These groups are considered by national security experts as responsible for conducting influence and intelligence operations on behalf of China's ruling party.

In addition to calling for cancellation of the ceremony, Moolenaar asked Mayor Parker to end Philadelphia's sister-city relationship with Tianjin.

"Raising the national flag of a foreign adversary country sends the wrong message to our citizens and lawful residents, especially those oppressed by the CCP regime. The city government of Philadelphia should not allow itself to be exploited as a tool for CCP propaganda. To cancel the PRC flag-raising ceremony will not only demonstrate that local government in United States stands for U.S. values and national interests, but that it stands in support for people in China who face regime’s ruthless oppression and transnational repression," Moolenaar concluded.

A copy of Moolenaar's full letter can be found at this link.