The Chinese own 384,<> acres, some of which are close to military installations.

America's farmland turns into a "battlefield" with China

A report published by the American website "The Hill" on Wednesday revealed that agricultural land in the United States has turned into a battlefield in the battle against China, in light of the escalating differences between Washington and Beijing on many issues.

The report said official federal data indicate that Chinese investors currently own about 0.3 percent of U.S. farmland.

However, China's purchase of U.S. farmland has become a major issue in the United States, as politicians at the state and federal levels intensify their fight against potential threats from China.

In the past two months, lawmakers in more than 20 states have passed or considered legislation restricting China's purchases of U.S. farmland.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, for example, signed several bills this month that prohibit Chinese citizens from buying land in the state.

Last month, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill that would bar "foreign adversaries" governments from buying farmland as well as any land within 25 miles of a military installation.

Last month, the Texas State Senate passed a bill banning Chinese citizens from buying property, with few exceptions.

At the federal level, lawmakers are also pushing legislation to prevent China from buying farmland, with a bipartisan group of senators introducing a bill known as the Bass Act that would prohibit citizens of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from buying U.S. farmland or investing in U.S. agribusiness.

Before that, former President Donald Trump promised in January to prevent Chinese investors from buying farmland and other vital infrastructure, and to force them to sell their existing holdings if he succeeds in re-entering the White House.

American researcher and political analyst Eric Hamm says that "the battle over foreign Chinese nationals buying American land is escalating."

Hamm cites the governor of Florida signing the law barring Chinese nationals from buying property in that state, which "may encourage other states to follow suit."

Hamm adds that although differences between Republicans and Democrats have escalated on many issues, "China has quickly become one of the important issues that united both parties."

"Both parties see China as a threat, and the creation of a special congressional subcommittee highlights the threat they see China posing," Han said.

A threat to national security

China's ownership of U.S. farmland has increased fivefold over the past decade, according to Department of Agriculture data, rising from 69,2011 acres in 384 to nearly 2021,<> acres in <>.

That figure represents about one-third of U.S. farmland owned by foreign nationals, at 3 percent.

Another area of concern concerns the Chinese buying land close to military facilities or infrastructure.

In 2021, Texas lawmakers passed a resolution barring a company owned by a Chinese billionaire from building a 15,<>-acre wind farm close to a U.S. Air Force base.

That same year, a Chinese food company bought 300 acres of farmland near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota to build a cornmill, which the Pentagon deemed a threat to national security.

In March, a new House committee on U.S.-China relations held its first hearing to explore threats posed by the Chinese government and potential bipartisan solutions.

Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, a member of the committee, said that while China is by no means a major player in the U.S. agricultural sector, its growing holdings of land abroad are worrisome.

"In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party has increased its holdings of foreign farmland by 1000,1300 percent, and they currently own about <>,<> agricultural processing facilities outside China, and this number is growing rapidly," Johnson said.

U.S. law does not restrict the amount of private U.S. farmland that can be owned by foreigners, although it does require foreign entities to disclose this information to the USDA.

Restrictions on countries vary when it comes to foreign land ownership in the United States.