South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said last week that the United States should actively curtail purchases of farmland by Chinese nationals. The call to action followed a number of land purchases by individuals tied to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), including one attempted acquisition near an American nuclear missile base.
Noem made the comments as Congress is currently considering a bill that would further restrict the ability of Chinese citizens and companies to purchase farmland within the United States. She said that Beijing’s efforts occurred as part of China’s wider efforts to become the “world-dominating power.”
“So for 25 years, I’ve worked on food policy, I’ve watched them buy up our fertilizer companies, our chemical companies, they own our processing systems, now they’re purchasing up our land, and America needs to wake up and recognize that aggressive action needs to happen,” she said in a Fox News interview on Sunday.
🚨This is a national security threat.
If we thought a pandemic was scary, wait until Communist China controls our food supply.
I’m supporting @RepGallagher’s bill to protect U.S. farmland from nations that hate America. pic.twitter.com/ixMoz2lucu
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) December 1, 2023
The governor said that such land purchases were “under the control of the CCP.”
The purchase of American land by Chinese nationals is not a new concern. However, the trend has been growing in recent years.
Multiple efforts on Capitol Hill attempted to restrict the ability of Chinese nationals from purchasing such property, especially near American military installations.
Earlier this year, both the House and Senate passed measures to restrict the ability of citizens of China, North Korea, Iran and Russia from purchasing land in the United States. One Senate amendment introduced by Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) would bar the purchase of farmland in excess of 320 acres or worth more than $5 million by citizens or businesses from the targeted countries.
Noem is backing the legislation, which has not been passed by the House of Representatives. The bill enjoys widespread bipartisan support, passing 91-7 in July.
A separate bill filed by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) would restrict nations Washington considers hostile from purchasing land near American military bases.
Furthermore, a number of states have passed their own restrictions on the ability of Chinese nationals to purchase such properties.
