In response to increasing reports of Chinese land ownership in the US, state legislators, particularly in Republican strongholds, are taking steps to enact laws aimed at restricting such acquisitions due to rising national security apprehensions.
Legislative Push Against Foreign Land Acquisitions
A recent report by Politico has drawn attention to a surge in legislative activity across over 20 states focused on addressing what lawmakers perceive as a significant and escalating threat to national security posed by foreign ownership of US land.
This comes on the heels of at least 15 states passing laws in 2023 that imposed limitations or outright bans on foreign land ownership.
Citing National Security Risks
The impetus behind these legislative actions stems from various incidents, including the discovery and dismantling of a Chinese spy balloon over the continental US in February 2023, coupled with consistent official warnings regarding Beijing’s alleged national security threat.
Rising Chinese Ownership of Agricultural Land
According to data from the National Agricultural Law Center, several states have already implemented laws to curb sales of farmland to foreign investors and entities.
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In 2023 alone, a dozen states passed legislation restricting foreign investment in agricultural land.
Concerns and Figures
A Department of Agriculture report from 2021 revealed that China‘s ownership of US agricultural land stands at approximately 384,000 acres, with significant growth observed between 2019 and 2020.
The concern is amplified by fears that Chinese entities, potentially linked to the government, could gain control over American assets or access sensitive information.
Lack of Transparency and Information Gaps
Despite legislative efforts to safeguard agricultural land and restrict sales near military bases, significant gaps persist in identifying the true extent of foreign ownership.
US Senator Jon Tester expressed uncertainty, stating, “I don’t know that we know for sure all the foreign land that potentially is owned by Chinese individuals or folks controlled by the Chinese government.”
Public Opinion and Support for Restrictions
A recent Marist Poll commissioned by the non-profit advocacy group State Armor indicated that 73 percent of surveyed Americans support banning China and other perceived national security threats from providing components for critical infrastructure, such as cell phone towers and electrical grids.
Policy Responses and Concerns
The Department of Defense report released in late 2023 highlighted additional concerns regarding Chinese military companies operating within the US under civilian guises.
This has prompted lawmakers like Representatives Glenn Thompson and James Comer to emphasize the threat posed by growing foreign ownership of US farmland to both food security and national security.
“Growing foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, particularly by China, poses a direct threat to our food security and national security,” U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and James Comer, R-Ky., said in a joint statement Jan. 18.
