Let me preface this with the comment that there is no sarcasm here - just, like many here, trying to make sense of this.
So, According to thefreedictionary.com, affiliate and subsidiary could be synonyms.
1. affiliate - a subordinate or subsidiary associate; a person who is affiliated with another or with an organization
associate - a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor; "he had to consult his associate before continuing"
2. affiliate - a subsidiary or subordinate organization that is affiliated with another organization; "network affiliates"
organization, organisation - a group of people who work together