Democrats in Little Rock Retain Chinese City Ties Despite GOP Push
Little Rock reclassifies its sister city partnership with Changchun, China, as a friendship city to comply with Arkansas’ new law banning such ties.
In the 1990s, when China was emerging as a global hub for low-cost manufacturing and Chinese films were gaining popularity, many U.S. cities pursued “Sister City” partnerships with Chinese counterparts. During that period, Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, formed a relationship with Changchun, a northeastern Chinese city often called the “City of Automobiles.”
Although China was a communist state with a poor human rights record, these partnerships were seen at the time as progressive, future-oriented exchanges. Arkansas was under Democratic control, and Little Rock’s mayor, Jim Dailey, was a nonpartisan figure. With little political resistance, the initiative moved forward.
Changing Politics, Shifting Views
Much has changed in the three decades since. China’s rise as a global economic and geopolitical power has fueled concerns that it threatens U.S. influence. At the same time, Arkansas politics have shifted strongly toward Republican leadership.
Many Republicans now view sister city ties with Chinese municipalities as outdated, inappropriate, or even harmful. They have pushed legislation to end such arrangements. Democrats, however, see the effort as politically motivated and argue that preserving the relationships avoids unnecessary polarization.
The Communist China Defense Package
A new state law, the “Communist China Defense Package,” went into effect on July 1. It prohibits Arkansas towns and cities from maintaining sister city relationships with Chinese municipalities. The law also bans public colleges and universities from hosting “Chinese cultural centers” on their campuses.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed the measure earlier this year, framing it as part of a broader Republican push to limit Chinese influence in the United States.
Democrats in Little Rock have resisted. On July 15, the Little Rock City Board of Directors, which leans Democratic, voted to reclassify the city’s partnership with Changchun from a “Sister City” to a “Friendship City.” The move technically complies with state law while preserving the long-standing connection.
A Workaround for Little Rock
A memo from Little Rock’s Sister Cities Commission explained that “friendship city” status is less formal than a sister city partnership and does not fall under the oversight of Sister Cities International. The change allows the city to comply with the new law while maintaining ties with Changchun.
The City Board adopted the resolution without debate. According to city spokesman Aaron Sadler, Changchun officials were notified about the end of the formal sister city status. The transition was formalized by the Sister Cities Commission in June and ratified by the Board on July 15. In practice, the city found a way to sidestep the new restrictions.
Political Symbolism More Than Practical Value
Today, the relationship with Changchun carries little practical impact. Its most visible element had been the participation of Chinese athletes in the Little Rock Marathon, a tradition that has since ended. Sadler confirmed there are no current plans for future events or collaborations.
Still, the issue carries political weight. Little Rock remains one of the few Democratic strongholds in Arkansas and is led by Mayor Frank Scott Jr., the city’s first Black mayor in a state that is predominantly white and conservative.
For many Democrats, the “Communist China Defense Package” represents a broader Republican strategy to use nationalism as a wedge issue. But any Democratic attempt to preserve ties risks being portrayed by Republicans as sympathetic to China.
