Let’s dive into a story that sounds like it came straight out of a spy thriller! We’re talking about China’s strategic farmland purchases right next to U.S. military bases. That’s right, folks—China has been buying up land around some of America’s most important military installations, raising serious concerns about national security.
Now, you might be wondering why this would be a problem. Well, it turns out these land purchases are in proximity to 19 U.S. bases from Florida to Hawaii. These bases include Fort Liberty in North Carolina, Fort Cavazos in Texas, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Such strategic locations are key to our national defense, and having foreign-owned land nearby is making some experts pretty uneasy.
Robert S. Spalding III, a retired Air Force brigadier general, has voiced these concerns. He highlighted that the land’s proximity to strategic sites could enable intelligence collection and even influence local politics. Imagine this: under the guise of farming, these lands could host surveillance equipment like radar, tracking technology, and even drones—all aimed at spying on our military activities.
There’s more! A Wall Street Journal report from September 2023 revealed over 100 attempts by Chinese intruders to breach U.S. military facilities. These incidents include sneaking onto missile ranges and scuba divers near rocket launch sites. The FBI has labeled the Chinese government a “grave threat,” with hackers already infiltrating critical U.S. infrastructure, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
Saw this map of Chinese-owned farmland (like, actually owned by China) in relation to military bases in the USA. Quite interesting. Seems… by design. pic.twitter.com/bJtrCihJFH
— Jared Garrett || Professional Wordslinger (@jaredgarrett) June 21, 2024
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also warned about Chinese spies potentially slipping through the U.S. southern border. These spies could engage in economic espionage and steal our technologies and intellectual property. Morgan Lerette, a former contractor for Blackwater, is alarmed. He explained how China could use this farmland to learn about U.S. military capabilities, movements, and technology, enhancing their military strategies.
Let’s talk numbers. As of December 31, 2022, Chinese investors owned 349,442 acres of U.S. farmland. One of the largest investors, billionaire Sun Guangxin, bought land next to Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas. Although there hasn’t been any overt evidence of spying, the state’s Republicans have raised concerns.
Senator Ted Cruz has pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party is investing billions to expand its espionage capabilities through land purchases. For example, Fufeng Group, a Chinese company, bought 300 acres near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota in 2022. Another billionaire, Chen Tianqiao, purchased nearly 200,000 acres in Oregon in 2015. Despite these significant investments, only a fraction of foreign-owned U.S. farmland is Chinese-owned. However, it’s the strategic locations that raise red flags.
In response to these security risks, the Biden administration barred a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land in Wyoming. The firm’s equipment was too close to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, posing a national security risk.
The Defense Department, FBI, and other agencies are now on high alert, investigating potential espionage attempts. U.S.-China tensions spiked in early 2023 after a Chinese surveillance balloon flew over the mainland, adding to the unease.
From sneaking onto military bases to flying drones for surveillance, Chinese operatives have been testing U.S. security measures. In Alaska, Chinese nationals tried to push past guards at Fort Wainwright, and in New Mexico, they were caught taking pictures at an Army range.
Even our borders aren’t safe. Customs and Border Protection officials apprehended 24,048 Chinese citizens at the border with Mexico by the end of fiscal year 2023. That’s a massive increase from the previous year.
A reminder that the Biden administration is just a Trojan horse for China 🇨🇳 and the Globalists.
30,000 Chinese have crossed the Mexican Border in the past year, how did they get there? No one asks these questions.
The Chinese own all the Farm Land around US Military Bases.… https://t.co/pm4ZL3dgnw
— Stay Free Community (Fans of @rustyrockets) (@StayFreeSpaces) March 21, 2024
Folks, it’s clear that these strategic land purchases by Chinese entities are more than just business deals. They’re potential threats to our national security, and it’s crucial for us to stay vigilant and address these risks head-on.
US FARMLAND
Dr Phil brings up to Joe Rogan that not only are the Chinese buying up farmland in the US, but the land is coincidentally all near US military installations. 👀 pic.twitter.com/fcqhfOOzvG— Joe Random (@justsomeguy_joe) February 20, 2024
