With the idea of China as a threat on the mind of everyday Americans, many were worried when they first heard of the news that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have been buying up plots of land within the United States. Some have even asked, “Why isn’t the federal government doing anything about it?”
Well, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) has brought up the concern to a multitude of major players in the Biden administration with a letter in which he led, alongside 50 of his colleagues.
The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Austin Lloyd, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
After a manufacturing company based in China (with close links to the CCP) known as the Fefung Group purchased land near Grand Forks, North Dakota, which is home to an Air Force Base, members of the military have pointed out that the Chinese could be attempting to spy and possibly jeopardize U.S. interests.
“At a time when the United States is engaged in great power competition with China, we must utilize every tool at our disposal to protect and defend the integrity of our military and national security, maintain military dominance, and maximize our global military readiness,” wrote those who signed the letter.
The letter asks the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of the Treasury (Treasury), and the USDA about their attempts to be proactive about the Chinese purchasing land, and whether their respective departments have “established jurisdictions to act on this transaction (of land in North Dakota) and address the national security risks it poses.”
Last month, Republican nominee Cory Mills (R-FL) out of Florida’s 7th Congressional District stated that he would introduce federal legislation to combat the Chinese from purchasing land on U.S. soil, if elected.
He faces Karen Green (D) on November 8th for the Congressional seat.
