Americans are increasingly sounding the alarm over foreign countries, particularly China, buying up U.S. land and operating critical infrastructure, according to a recent poll. This concern has reached the halls of Congress, where lawmakers are scrambling to address the growing fears of foreign influence in key industries and even near sensitive military installations.
In recent years, individuals and entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have been purchasing U.S. farmland and property, raising red flags among security experts and politicians alike. The scale of these land acquisitions is staggering, with some estimates suggesting that foreign interests now control over 40 million acres of U.S. land. Many of these purchases are near crucial infrastructure or military bases, heightening concerns that they could be part of a strategic effort to undermine U.S. national security.
The issue isn’t just a talking point in Washington—it’s one that resonates with everyday Americans. A new poll from CRC Research, conducted for the 85 Fund and shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans want foreign countries like China banned from buying U.S. land. Specifically, 66% of respondents believe that countries deemed adversaries of the U.S. should be prohibited from purchasing property on American soil.
This concern is especially pressing in battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, where voters are particularly vocal about the need to protect American land from foreign influence. These findings reflect a growing unease among Americans that the CCP’s influence is creeping into areas critical to the nation’s safety and infrastructure.
Michael Lucci, CEO of State Armor, an organization focused on defending states from foreign interference, pointed out why these concerns are on the rise. “Americans are increasingly aware of the danger that foreign adversaries like Communist China pose to their states,” Lucci explained. “The Chinese Communist Party is an adversary willing to do anything to undermine U.S. security, especially during an election year.”
Lucci also highlighted several areas where China’s influence could be particularly damaging. “China’s efforts to target our critical infrastructure, monopolize essential technologies, and use American investments to fund their military are top concerns for voters,” he added. The fear is that China is not just buying land for agricultural purposes but strategically positioning itself to monitor or even disrupt American infrastructure.
The poll also found that 67% of Americans support legislation to block foreign adversaries from supplying critical infrastructure components. This is significant because China has made significant investments in industries like telecommunications, renewable energy, and even tech manufacturing. Many worry that by controlling these sectors, China could wield undue influence over U.S. economic and national security.
The Scale of the Issue
Foreign entities now own a staggering 40 million acres of U.S. farmland, with China alone controlling nearly 347,000 acres, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Some of these land purchases have occurred disturbingly close to vital military installations. For instance, in 2022, China-based Fufeng Group purchased 300 acres of land near Grand Forks, North Dakota—just a 20-minute drive from a U.S. Air Force base housing sensitive drone technology.
This move raised alarms within the military, with Air Force Major Jeremy Fox writing a memo suggesting that the land purchase was emblematic of China’s broader strategy to position itself near U.S. defense infrastructure. Fox argued that the proximity of Fufeng’s property to the base made it an ideal location for intercepting communications from the Air Force.
Such examples have spurred Congress into action. Lawmakers are now working to include stronger protections against foreign land acquisitions in the 2024 Farm Bill. One of the key figures pushing for these reforms is Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa). Her proposed changes to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) would give the U.S. government greater ability to track and regulate foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land.
“The American people deserve to know who is buying up our land, especially when it’s an adversarial nation like China,” Hinson said. Her proposed reforms aim to close loopholes that have allowed foreign entities to quietly amass large swaths of American farmland.
The proposed Farm Bill, expected to be voted on in the coming weeks, could mark a significant shift in how the U.S. handles foreign investments in key industries. If passed, it would not only restrict adversarial nations from purchasing American land but also increase transparency and give the federal government more tools to track foreign investments.
The Bottom Line
Americans are waking up to the threat posed by China’s aggressive land purchases and influence over critical infrastructure. As the U.S. continues to grapple with foreign interference, lawmakers are under increasing pressure to pass legislation that safeguards American assets and prevents adversaries like the CCP from gaining a foothold in vital industries. With bipartisan support for more stringent regulations, the upcoming Farm Bill could be a critical step in protecting American sovereignty and security from foreign influence.
