Missouri bans land sales to China, other ‘foreign adversaries’ near military bases

[KARAH RUCKER]

WHO IS PURCHASING LAND AROUND MILITARY BASES IN THE U.S., AND WHY? 

IS IT A THREAT TO U.S. SECURITY? 

CAN IT AND SHOULD IT BE STOPPED? 

THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATING IN MEDIA HEADLINES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. ONE MIDWESTERN GOVERNOR THIS WEEK ADDRESSED THOSE QUESTIONS HEAD ON WITH AN ORDER BLOCKING LAND PURCHASES BY FOREIGN ADVERSARIES.

THE QUESTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN KICKED AROUND AT THE PENTAGON AND ON CAPITOL HILL, AS ALARMS SOUND AT THE THOUGHT OF AN ADVERSARY OF THE U.S. STRATEGICALLY PURCHASING LAND AROUND SENSITIVE MILITARY SITES.

[FOX 26 HOUSTON REPORT]

“A GROUP OF BIPARTISAN LAWMAKERS IN INVESTIGATING CHINA PURCHASING A LOT OF AMERICAN FARMLAND INCLUDING SOME AROUND U.S. MILITARY BASES.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

AFTER A CHINESE GROUP BOUGHT 270 ACRES OF LAND NEAR AN AIR FORCE BASE IN NORTH DAKOTA IN 20-22, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED A RULE TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS OVER WHO CAN BUY LAND NEAR U.S. BASES.

MANY STATES WANT TO GO EVEN FURTHER, BANNING ALL LAND SALES TO FOREIGN ADVERSARIES, LIKE CHINA…

THIS WEEK, MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON DID JUST THAT, SAYING THE STATE IS TAKING ITS SECURITY INTO ITS OWN HANDS, AS HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT BANS ALL LAND SALES TO FOREIGN ADVERSARIES WITHIN 10 MILES OF CRITICAL MILITARY SITES IN THE STATE.

[GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON]

“Understanding the heightened concern, this order safeguards our military and intelligence assets, prevents security threats to our state and gives Missourians greater peace of mind.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

STATES LISTED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER INCLUDE: 

CHINA, CUBA, IRAN, NORTH KOREA, RUSSIA, AND VENEZUELA.

PARSON ADDED THAT CURRENTLY NO FOREIGN ADVERSARY OWNS LAND WITHIN THE RESTRICTIONS OUTLINED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER..

[GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON]

“While we have had no issues at this point we want to be proactive against any potential threats.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

GOVERNOR PARSON TELLING REPORTERS THAT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER IS A PLACEHOLDER AS HIS HOPE IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN GET SOMETHING PASSED IN THE NEXT SESSION.

ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CHINESE OWNERSHIP OF U-S FARMLAND HAS JUMPED MORE THAN TWENTY-FOLD OVER THE LAST DECADE-PLUS. 

FOR CONTEXT – THE MOST UP TO DATE U-S-D-A DATA SHOWS THAT FOREIGN ENTITIES OWN JUST OVER 3 PERCENT OF PRIVATELY HELD AGRICULTURAL LAND AND LESS THAN 2-PERCENT OF ALL LAND IN THE OF THAT, CHINESE ENTITIES CONTROL LESS THAN HALF. THE MAJORITY OF FOREIGN OWNED LAND IN THE U.S. IS CONTROLLED BY CANADA.