{"id":2266647,"date":"2024-06-13T06:56:02","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T10:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-chinese-ownership-of-u-s-land-threatens-national-security\/"},"modified":"2024-06-13T07:02:46","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T11:02:46","slug":"how-chinese-ownership-of-u-s-land-threatens-national-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-chinese-ownership-of-u-s-land-threatens-national-security\/","title":{"rendered":"The Risks of Chinese Ownership of U.S. Land on National Security"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-chinese-ownership-of-u-s-land-threatens-national-security%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2266647&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The early 2023 \u200bChinese spy balloon incident has amplified concerns about Chinese espionage and its implications for U.S. national security. In response, many state legislatures, \u2062predominantly led by Republicans, are \u2062moving to pass laws \u2062that prevent Chinese entities \u200cfrom purchasing real estate, especially around military \u2063bases and farmland.\u200c For instance, \u200bGeorgia&#8217;s Senate Bill 420 bans any &#8220;agent&#8221;\u2062 of China from acquiring commercial land close to\u200c military installations or \u2063any farmland. Similarly, South Dakota has enacted legislation banning land\u200b purchases\u200b by China and \u200cseveral other nations\u200d perceived as adversaries.<\/p>\n<p>These state-level efforts are part of broader\u2062 concerns that Chinese real estate investments\u2064 may be serving strategic purposes \u2062beyond simple financial returns. These\u200d include securing food supplies, gaining insights into\u2062 U.S.\u2063 agricultural technology, potential\u200d espionage, and even the theoretical threat of biological warfare. Opposition to these legislative initiatives often involves economic and diplomatic arguments,\u2064 citing potential repercussions\u200d on local markets and\u200d international relations.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, incidents like the placement of ZTE\u2062 network equipment \u2062near\u2063 U.S. strategic sites underscore fears about\u2063 the use of real estate for espionage, highlighting \u200cthe complexity of managing national \u200csecurity risks in a globalized economy. These developments have necessitated a more \u2064stringent examination of foreign real estate \u200binvestments in the U.S., particularly when they \u2064pose a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-twitter-contributed-to-david-frenchs-destruction-of-his-own-character\/\" title=\"How Twitter Contributed To David French\u2019s Destruction Of His Own Character\">potential national security threat<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>The Chinese spy balloon incident of early 2023 painted a tangible picture of the growing problem of Chinese espionage, heightening concerns over the government\u2019s intentions. Partly as a result, efforts at the state level to curtail foreign ownership of farmland and sensitive infrastructure have accelerated.<\/p>\n<p>Legislatures in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/04\/03\/state-laws-china-land-buying-00150030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">two-thirds of U.S. states<\/a> are advancing bills aimed at curtailing purchases of real estate by Chinese-controlled interests. This legislation is almost entirely backed by Republicans. Legislation aimed at limiting the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) strategic penetration of the United States was recently passed in <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/chinese-land-sales-ban-agent-8fe63e09fa4afb89d029a741d9141ecd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia<\/a> and South Dakota. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-1607549984\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-861a7758f7a1a1da31da62bea6b8e590 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-861a7758f7a1a1da31da62bea6b8e590\"><\/div>\n<p>In Georgia, SB 420, which parallels new laws enacted in numerous other states, bans any \u201cagent\u201d of China from buying commercial land near military installations or any farmland. Democrats called it discriminatory, echoing CCP propaganda language. In March, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2024\/04\/03\/state-laws-china-land-buying-00150030\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Dakota<\/a> Gov. Kristi Noem <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sd.gov\/news?id=news_kb_article_view&#038;sysparm_article=KB0041842&#038;sys_kb_id=161f3b6c1b7c021077bd6420604bcbff&#038;spa=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signed<\/a> HB 1231, which bars China, as well as Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, from purchasing farmland in the state. Much of this recent success in the states can be attributed to a new group, <a href=\"https:\/\/statearmor.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">State Armor<\/a>, which launched last year under Michael Lucci\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<p>These state-level initiatives demonstrate growing alarm over the national security implications of foreign land acquisitions. But opposition from business and <a href=\"https:\/\/capitol.texas.gov\/tlodocs\/88R\/witlistbill\/pdf\/SB00147S.pdf#navpanes=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">real estate associations<\/a>, concerns about economic effects, and diplomatic considerations \u2014 including directed pressure from the CCP via its <a href=\"https:\/\/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/uf-101-memo-final-pdf-version.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Front organizations<\/a> \u2014 often present significant hurdles to the passage of such legislation. So despite frequent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brown.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press\/release\/sherrod-brown-protect-american-farmland-foreign-investors-national-defense-bill#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20D.C.%20%E2%80%93%20U.S.%20Senator%20Sherrod,the%20country's%20annual%20defense%20bill.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bipartisan<\/a> support and recognition of the need for action, efforts to address foreign ownership of farmland and critical infrastructure at the state level have met with mixed success prior to this year.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Foreign Land Ownership Can Be a Problem<\/h2>\n<p>The landscape of American real estate purchases by Chinese nationals or businesses has undergone significant shifts in recent years. Initially driven by a desire to offshore savings away from the reach of the CCP and provide a home base for children attending prestigious universities, such investments have now expanded into the realm of farmland acquisitions, ringing national security alarm bells.<\/p>\n<p>The reasons behind these farmland and food industry purchases are strategic and fit into four main categories \u2014 only one of which is mostly benign for U.S. interests.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-64f703ae8793cea2385f380cacc19266 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-64f703ae8793cea2385f380cacc19266\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Food Security:<\/strong> The CCP places significant emphasis on food security due to the historical impact of famines on China\u2019s political stability. Acquiring farmland and food production facilities in the United States allows China to secure food supplies, mitigating potential risks from dependence on its domestic food production.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Intellectual Property:<\/strong> Chinese entities are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-05\/Chinas_Interests_in_U.S._Agriculture.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seeking<\/a> firsthand insights into American agricultural practices. America is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/articles\/investing\/100615\/4-countries-produce-most-food.asp#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20is%20the%20world's,dependent%20on%20imports%20by%20China.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">no. 1<\/a> in food production, and China wants in on that. This knowledge can then be transferred back to China, mirroring the systematic approach the Chinese have taken in other industries, where they work through the supply chain from basic materials to complex products.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Espionage Opportunities:<\/strong> Another concerning trend is the proximity of Chinese-owned farmland and food production properties to sensitive U.S. military installations. This positioning provides opportunities for direct observation of military facilities and enhances electronic eavesdropping capabilities, as well as potentially serving as clandestine beachheads for Chinese espionage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biological Warfare:<\/strong> The presence of Chinese-owned farmland also raises concerns about the potential introduction of deadly pathogens into the U.S. food supply. While such attacks may not necessarily require large-scale farming operations, the ownership of farmland could facilitate the rapid dissemination of pathogens, devastating crops or livestock.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-0eba61e3953a415faa3d201b9b218a13 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-0eba61e3953a415faa3d201b9b218a13\"><\/div>\n<p>Efforts to address these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-no-new-proactive-step-on-tiktok-deal-under-biden\/\" title=\"White House: No New \u2018Proactive Step\u2019 on TikTok Deal Under Biden\">national security risks<\/a> through state or federal action typically face opposition from both the real estate lobby and the CCP. The latter may invoke comparisons to historical discriminatory legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act to resist any regulatory measures.<\/p>\n<p>Yet recent developments underscore the urgency of addressing these concerns. Revelations from an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2022\/07\/23\/politics\/fbi-investigation-huawei-china-defense-department-communications-nuclear\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FBI investigation<\/a> reveal China\u2019s extensive efforts to establish electronic intelligence capabilities in the United States, particularly in areas adjacent to military installations. Chinese telecommunications giants including Huawei and ZTE have sold equipment to rural American providers, raising alarms about potential vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>The ZTE cell network equipment near strategic nuclear bases presents a grave threat to national security. Placing such infrastructure adjacent to military installations poses risks of electronic surveillance, signals jamming, and potential disruption of critical communications systems.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using Real Estate for Surveillance and Theft<\/h2>\n<p>The history of China\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.industryweek.com\/the-economy\/public-policy\/article\/21960801\/chinas-economic-mercantilism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strategic mercantilism<\/a> further highlights the need for vigilance. The PRC\u2019s ascendancy in key industries, including telecommunications, has been fueled by policies aimed at buying or <a href=\"https:\/\/ndupress.ndu.edu\/Media\/News\/News-Article-View\/Article\/3679322\/from-made-in-china-to-created-in-china-intellectual-property-rights-in-the-peop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stealing foreign technology<\/a>, leveraging joint ventures, and undercutting competitors on price. The decline of American manufacturing dominance in telecommunications serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of inaction in the face of strategic competition.<\/p>\n<p>The importance of strategic real estate is underscored by past incidents, such as China\u2019s attempt to build the National China Garden in Washington, D.C. While this project was ultimately rejected due to national security concerns, private transactions often evade similar scrutiny until after the fact.<\/p>\n<p>Recent acquisitions of farmland near military bases, such as the Fufeng Group\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/economy\/china-fufeng-north-dakota-corn-mill-project-halted-grand-forks-city-council\">pur<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/economy\/china-fufeng-north-dakota-corn-mill-project-halted-grand-forks-city-council\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">c<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/economy\/china-fufeng-north-dakota-corn-mill-project-halted-grand-forks-city-council\">hase<\/a> of land in Grand Forks, North Dakota, highlight the complex interplay between economic interests and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinas-evergrande-somehow-made-recent-interest-payments-but-default-is-on-the-horizon\/\" title=\"China\u2019s Evergrande Somehow Made Recent Interest Payments But Default is on the Horizon\">national security imperatives<\/a>. While proponents may argue for economic benefits and job creation, the potential risks associated with CCP involvement and strategic military purposes cannot be overlooked.<\/p>\n<p>Adding to the concerns are recent examples of farm purchases close to military installations, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/johnhyatt\/2021\/08\/09\/why-a-secretive-chinese-billionaire-bought-140000-acres-of-land-in-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acquisition<\/a> of land by Chinese interests near Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. This vast 140,000-acre ranch sits on the border with Mexico, raising alarms about potential coordination with transnational criminal organizations and the use of the land for activities beyond purely commercial purposes.<\/p>\n<p>While food security is paramount, it\u2019s also essential to recognize that the loss of one harvest cycle from disruption due to Chinese land ownership does not equate to permanent damage. America retains vast amounts of arable land, much of it not currently in production, ensuring resilience in the face of potential disruptions. China can\u2019t take the land with it.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI\u2019s ongoing counterintelligence <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/investigate\/counterintelligence\/the-china-threat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">investigations<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/statearmor.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warnings from experts<\/a> underscore the urgency of addressing the national security risks posed by Chinese-owned real estate. Failure to act swiftly and decisively leaves America vulnerable to a range of threats, from electronic espionage to biological warfare.<\/p>\n<p>As the specter of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan looms, the need to safeguard America\u2019s interests and defend against external threats has never been more pressing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-5e262b108e50ccfcfcc0e331456c2838 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-5e262b108e50ccfcfcc0e331456c2838\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In early 2023, a Chinese spy balloon incident underscored the escalating issue of Chinese espionage, raising alarms about governmental motives. Consequently, many U.S. states are now fast-tracking legislation to restrict foreign ownership of farmland and critical infrastructure, with two-thirds of state legislatures actively pushing such bills<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":563,"featured_media":2266648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Copy-of-Untitled-7.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2266647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Copy-of-Untitled-7.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/563"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2266647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2266647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2266648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2266647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2266647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2266647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}