How does China manipulate twinning?

Sister city agreements are a significant part of Chinese diplomacy. Cultural events fostered by twinning agreements like student exchanges, and language and art residencies, all facilitate China's overseas infiltration and propaganda spreading. Furthermore, twinning is now playing an even more significant role in China's foreign policy “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI), an investment project in infrastructure. 

In Asia, China has been secretly forming sister city partnerships with nations like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal that complement its BRI expansionist goals. But this comes with a heavy price. China frequently employs loans with commercial interest rates. The BRI helps developing nations with their infrastructure spending, but it also leaves many of them with unmanageable debt. For instance, China is providing finance for a high-speed rail line in Laos that will cost half of the nation's GDP.

Apart from the economic burden accompanied by the BRI, more governments are beginning to be aware of China's propaganda that is being conveyed through cultural infiltration. One notable example is the Confucius Institutes, which are frequently associated with sister city partnerships. 

Confucius Institutes, backed by the Chinese government and under the CCP's control, are altering perceptions of China. They refrain from discussing subjects that China deems sensitive and also provides funding to universities. This creates pressure that affects and restricts the research topics of various higher education institutions under such financial incentives.

China’s grip on the overseas higher education sector is concerning. Following the uncovering of operatives from the “Thousand Talents Program” which was established for espionage activities, Chinese educators, scientists, and students have had their access to visas barred. This led to a wave of Confucius Institute closures across Europe and America, and most recently, a debate over an education bill in the UK parliament.

Even though sister cities may appear to be advantageous for enhancing local relationships between nations, China exploits them for propaganda and economic purposes attempting to consolidate its geostrategic agenda and tighten its grip on world politics.