Chinese Government-Backed Entities Buying Land in the United States: A Cause for Concern?

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of Chinese government-backed entities buying land in the United States. This has raised concerns among some people about the potential national security implications of this trend.

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Syngenta, a Swiss agricultural company that was acquired by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company, in 2017

One of the main concerns is that Chinese government-backed entities could use their control of US land to steal sensitive information or to disrupt US supply chains. For example, if a Chinese government-backed entity were to buy a large farm in the United States, it could potentially use that farm to collect data on US agricultural production or to disrupt the US food supply.

Another concern is that Chinese government-backed entities could use their control of US land to exert political influence over the United States. For example, if a Chinese government-backed entity were to buy a large swath of land near a military base, it could potentially use that land to spy on US military activities.

The US government has taken some steps to address these concerns. In 2020, the Trump administration passed the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), which gives the US government more power to review and block foreign investments that could pose a national security risk. The Biden administration has continued to enforce FIRRMA, and it has also taken other steps to address the Chinese government's control of US land. For example, the Biden administration has created a new interagency task force to coordinate the government's response to this issue.

Despite these steps, some experts believe that the US government is not doing enough to address the risks posed by Chinese government-backed entities buying land in the United States. They argue that the US government should require Chinese government-backed entities to disclose more information about their investments in the United States and that the government should be more willing to block these investments if they pose a national security risk.

The issue of Chinese government-backed entities buying land in the United States is a complex one. There are no easy answers. However, it is an important issue that the US government should take seriously.

Here are some additional thoughts on the issue:

• The concerns about Chinese government-backed entities buying land in the United States are valid. The Chinese government has a history of using its economic power to exert influence over other countries. It is possible that the Chinese government could use its control of US land to harm the United States in the future.
• The US government should be aware of this risk and should take steps to mitigate it. The Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) is a good start, but it is not enough. The US government should also consider other measures, such as requiring Chinese government-backed entities to disclose more information about their investments in the United States.
• The issue of Chinese government-backed entities buying land in the United States is a complex one. There are no easy answers. However, it is an important issue that the US government should take seriously.