![]() ![]() A second amendment co-sponsored by Tester is intended to halt the flow of U.S. The farmland security amendment was not the only last-minute amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act directed specifically toward China. “In order to protect our national security interests, especially after the Chinese spy balloon floated over Montana’s ICBMs and used American technology against us, we must stop our adversaries in their tracks before they threaten our food security or commit more acts of espionage.” Tester’s message was echoed by Montana Senator Steve Daines, who said in a separate news release that “food security is national security and folks across Montana are rightfully concerned that China and our adversaries are buying up American farmland near critical military operations.” “This is a critical step toward making sure we aren’t handing over valuable American assets to foreign entities who would like to replace us as the world’s leading military and economic power.” “Preventing our enemies from acquiring land near our sensitive military sites, like Malmstrom Air Force base in my home state of Montana, is a no brainer,” Tester added in a news release. The project was shot down by the Grand Forks City Commission following security concerns expressed by the U.S. In 2022 the Chinese owned Fufeng Group attempted to buy 300 acres land in Grand Forks, North Dakota and just 12-miles from the Grand Forks Air Force base, home to top secret drone technology. If you take a look at what happened in North Dakota where they were putting up a processing plant right near a military base, it’s just crazy and we shouldn’t be allowing that.” “It’s absolutely proven that China doesn’t do this stuff by mistake. “They don’t buy farmland in North Dakota just because they think it’s a good investment,” he asserted. Rounds of South Dakota to pass our bipartisan amendment to the NDAA to ban foreign adversaries like China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from purchasing American ag land and agri-businesses.” Earlier this week I worked with my Republican colleague, Sen. “So last year when reports out of North Dakota suggested that China was attempting to purchase farmland near military bases I knew it was time to act. “Food security is national security, that is a fact,” Tester said. agriculture of more than 320 acres or with a value of more than $5 million. Under the language of the amendment, new scrutiny would be placed on any foreign investment in U.S. On Thursday, Tester spoke with the Montana press to explain the need for the legislation and its importance to national security. The amendment passed the whole Senate late Tuesday night as a component of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by a 91 to 7 vote. The report shows that North Korea owns no agricultural land in the U.S. The USDA’s 2022 report on foreign ownership of agricultural land in the United States notes that Iran currently owns 4,324 acres, and Russia just 73. adversaries, its greatest effect will be on the Chinese. While the amendment extends equally to all four U.S. The amendment was co-sponsored by Senators Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), and both Montana Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines. Senate added language to its Defense spending bill to prohibit people or businesses from China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea from buying U.S. First, that it represents a loss of control of food production in the United States to one of its most determined adversaries, and two that the Chinese are using these properties and business as a base from which to conduct surveillance and other acts of espionage against the U.S. ![]() Four years later a state-owned Chinese company purchased Syngenta, one of the largest seed companies operating in the U.S.Ĭoncerns over Chinese ownership are twofold. In 2013 a Chinese company bought the largest pork producer and processor in the U.S., Smithfield Foods. ![]() Department of Agriculture found that China currently owns more than 352,000 acres of agricultural land in the U.S., adding roughly 30% of that total since the beginning of 2019.Įqually concerning is Chinese ownership of U.S. security is their expanding purchase of agricultural land and food processing companies. One category of Chinese attempts to undermine U.S. military technology and covert attempts to influence U.S. However, China has been considered America’s greatest security threat for two decades now, with a long and well documented list of espionage activities including cyber-espionage, intellectual property theft, the theft of U.S. The Chinese spy balloon that drifted across Montana last February focused both national and international attention on Chinese espionage in the United States unlike anything before. ![]()
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