6th Annual U.S.-China Sister Cities Summit

From Tacoma Method to Tacoma Model: Reflections at the 6th U.S. – China Sister Cities Summit

Min Fan, USHCA’s Executive Director, was one of many representatives from the Heartland states that traveled to Tacoma, Washington, to participate in the 6th U.S. – China Sister Cities Summit on July 18 – 19th, 2024.

The community of Tacoma rolled out the red carpet for their domestic and international visitors; guests were greeted with a band of bagpipers, a formal cannon salute, traditional Mexican Salsa and Chinese Lion dances, as well as blessings by Puyallup Tribal leaders.

Distinguished attendees such as the Mayor of Tacoma, Sister Cities International representatives, and leaders of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, all gave welcome speeches along the beautiful waterfront of Thea’s Park with the majestic Mount Rainier as a backdrop. The welcoming festivities were followed by a full day of programming with remarks from dignitaries, packed panels, and busy networking opportunities for the 300+ participants.

What many visitors found most impactful was a visit to the Chinese Reconciliation Park, where many first learned of the infamous Tacoma Method, a violent expulsion of the Chinese community from Tacoma on November 3rd, 1885. This led guests to wonder: how did the Tacoma Method of the past lead to the Tacoma Model of today, with modern Tacoma lauded as an archetype of U.S. – China sub-national diplomacy?

A series of events helped pave the way:

• 1991 – Request for Reconciliation: Dr. and Mrs. David Murdoch’s initiation of the reconciliation process
• 1993 – Resolution No. 32415: The Tacoma City Council acknowledged that the Chinese expulsion was a most reprehensible occurrence and began the park development process
• 1993 – Xi Jinping visited Tacoma as a lower-level party official of Fuzhou city, East China’s Fujian province. Tacoma and Fuzhou became sister cities, bringing more frequent cultural and educational exchanges
• 1995 – Groundbreaking of the Chinese Reconciliation Park
• 2005 – City of Tacoma passed proclamation 2005 for the reconciliation of the tragic 1885 expulsion of the Chinese community
• 2008 – Lincoln High School Tacoma signed a memorandum with Fuzhou Education College Attached High School
• 2015 – Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tacoma for the second time with a special stop at Lincoln High School
• 2022 – Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards sent a letter to wish Chinese President Xi a Happy New Year and a successful Winter Games and received a personal reply from him soon after
• 2024 – Tacoma hosts the 6th U.S. – China Sister Cities Summit

As we reflect on this dramatic turn of history in Tacoma and the new waves of anti-Chinese sentiment spreading across our country, let us remain confident in the power of people-to-people exchanges and personal friendship to support broader trust building efforts. It was made clear by this event that there are many organizations across the country like USHCA which remain dedicated to turning the tide and advancing peace.

Click for additional coverage: China Daily, Xinhua News