The ceremony is ‘not an endorsement’ of the Chinese government but rather ‘an expression of cultural pride,’ Philadelphia’s solicitor general said.
The city where the U.S. Constitution was ratified held a flag-raising ceremony Tuesday to honor America’s chief geo-political adversary.
Philadelphia is defending its decision to hold a flag-raising ceremony for China at City Hall on the grounds that the ceremony honored the cultural heritage of one of the city’s immigrant communities, rather than the Chinese government.
“The flag-raising ceremony was approved through the Philadelphia Honors Diversity Flag Raising Program, established in 2018 to celebrate the cultural heritage and contributions of our city’s immigrant communities,” Philadelphia City Solicitor Renee Garcia said in a statement provided to NR.
“These ceremonies are not official endorsements of any foreign government, but rather, they are expressions of cultural pride by Philadelphia residents,” she added.
“This year alone, Philadelphia has hosted flag raisings of communities from 20 countries, including Kosovo, Dominican Republic, Lithuania, Ireland, Belarus, Greece, South Vietnam, Haiti, Georgia, Philippines, Bahamas, Venezuela, France, Jamaica, India, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Mexico, and St. Kitts and Nevis.”
China’s national holiday is October 1 and commemorates communist dictator Mao Zedong’s declaration establishing the People’s Republic of China.
“This annual event has been held since 2016 and it is consistently attended by local Chinese-American community groups and local business organizations, and features cultural performances, including dance and music,” Garcia concluded.
Philadelphia allows for the flags of foreign nations to be celebrated if the U.S. State Department recognizes the country or if the nation has an embassy or consulate in the U.S.
The flag raising ceremony was hosted by Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Pennsylvania’s United Chinese Coalition and Greater Philadelphia Fujian Hometown Association partnered with the city to put on the event. NR has reached out to the Office of Immigrant Affairs for comment.
Before the ceremony, Representative John Moolenaar (R., Mich.), raised concerns about its message and the connections the sponsoring organizations have to the Chinese Communist Party.
Moolenaar pointed to the Chinese Communist Party’s systematic persecution of Uyghur Muslims and people of faith more broadly. He also noted China’s role in producing fentanyl and its intent on undermining American interests worldwide.
“While all citizens and law-abiding residents of our great nation enjoy freedom of speech, petition, and assembly, I am deeply concerned that the city government of Philadelphia is partnering with local organizations that appear to be civic associations in name only and, more troubling, have ties to the CCP,” Moolenaar wrote to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D).
Philadelphia has been particularly hard hit by the fentanyl crisis, with the city’s Kensington neighborhood becoming a hotbed of homelessness, drug abuse, and criminality.
Moolenaar highlighted the engagement between the CCP and the organizations that sponsored the event — the Pennsylvania United Chinese Coalition and Greater Philadelphia Fujian Hometown Association — referencing comments from organization leaders on helping mainland China. Many local organizations initially founded to assist Chinese immigrants have been co-opted by the CCP’s United Front work operation, an international influence and intelligence project the CCP uses to influence the political environment of other countries.
“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,” he added.
Senator Dave McCormick (R., Pa.) also took issue with the ceremony, calling it “unacceptable” in a statement issued last week.
“Flying the CCP flag in our country- let alone the birthplace of America- is unacceptable under any circumstance,” McCormick said.
Philadelphia maintains a sister relationship with the Chinese city of Tianjin, an arrangement that Moolenaar asked Parker to reevaluate. Sister cities allow for cultural and economic exchange, but China could use them to advance malign influence operations. With that in mind, Moolenaar proposed legislation earlier this year to end Washington, D.C.’s sister relationship with Beijing.