CCP Farmland Grab: The National Security Crisis in America's Heartland

Chinese Land Acquisitions: Threatening U.S. Security from Within

Key Takeaways

• Chinese entities with CCP ties own over 346,000 acres of US farmland, strategically positioned near military bases like Fort Liberty and Camp Pendleton

• This isn't about agriculture—it's about surveillance, espionage, and positioning assets that could cripple US defenses during conflict

• Congress has introduced bipartisan legislation including the "No American Land for Communist China Act" to block foreign adversaries from buying land near defense sites

• The federal government has clear authority under existing statutes to seize these properties through eminent domain for national security

• Trump administration officials have called the situation a "national security emergency" requiring immediate action

In addition to their maritime endeavors and election interference the Chinese Communist Party is quietly executing a strategic land grab across America's heartland, and it's not about growing soybeans. While bureaucrats in Washington debate the finer points of "foreign investment," the CCP has been methodically acquiring farmland near critical military installations and infrastructure, creating what national security experts call a "ticking time bomb" on US soil.

The Scope of the Problem

Chinese entities with direct or indirect ties to the CCP now own approximately 346,000-370,000 acres of American farmland. While this represents less than 1% of all foreign-owned US agricultural land, the strategic locations tell a more alarming story.

These properties are concentrated in states like Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Utah, Virginia, Arkansas, and Wyoming. More concerning is their proximity to sensitive military installations:

• Land near Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina

• Properties surrounding MacDill Air Force Base in Florida

• Acreage adjacent to Camp Pendleton in California

• A suspicious "corn mill" project next to an Air Force installation

Retired Air Force Brigadier General Robert Spalding put it bluntly: "We don't have laws to stop China from buying property here." This regulatory gap has allowed what Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called a "shocking" amount of Chinese-owned land to accumulate near critical defense infrastructure.

National Security Implications

The national security threat extends far beyond theoretical concerns. There have already been documented cases of suspicious drone activity near military bases linked to Chinese-owned properties.

"This isn't about agriculture—it's about surveillance, espionage, and positioning assets to cripple US defenses during conflict," explains a Pentagon assessment. The strategic pattern of these acquisitions suggests a coordinated effort to establish monitoring capabilities and potential disruption points around America's military infrastructure.

The threat matrix includes:

• Electronic surveillance capabilities near sensitive communications

• Potential for disruption of military logistics and supply chains

• Creation of "blind spots" in domestic security perimeters

• Establishment of forward positions that could be activated during conflict

Every day this situation continues represents what security experts call "empowering Beijing's strategy to encircle our military infrastructure."

Economic and Food Security Risks

Beyond immediate national security concerns, CCP control of American farmland creates dangerous economic leverage over the US food supply. Foreign ownership of agricultural production means foreign influence over a critical resource.

The economic implications include:

• Potential manipulation of local food supplies and prices

• Access to advanced American agricultural technologies and methods

• Influence over rural communities and their economic stability

• Creation of economic dependencies that can be exploited during disputes

As one analysis notes, "If you think the CCP is buying up land for the scenery, I've got a bridge to sell you." These acquisitions represent strategic positioning with long-term implications for American economic sovereignty.

Congressional Response

After years of inaction, Congress is finally addressing the CCP farmland threat with bipartisan legislation:

The Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act:

• Adds the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)

• Enables review and blocking of land deals by foreign entities

• Requires reporting of transactions threatening national security

• Has passed the House with bipartisan support

The No American Land for Communist China Act:

• Bans the CCP and its front companies from buying land near federal property

• Has numerous cosponsors including the House Select Committee on the CCP

• Includes Senate companion legislation

These bills represent growing recognition that, as one lawmaker put it, "food security is national security—unless you're a bureaucrat who thinks selling out to China is just 'free trade.'"

State-Level Action

While Washington debates, states are taking matters into their own hands. Approximately half of US states now have laws restricting foreign ownership of farmland, with a dozen passing new restrictions in the last year alone.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders made headlines by forcing Syngenta, a CCP-tied agricultural company, off Arkansas soil. Similarly, after public outcry, CFIUS finally blocked a Chinese company's attempt to acquire land in Wyoming—but only after intense public pressure.

These state-level actions highlight what many see as a failure of federal agencies to prioritize national security over international business interests.

The Path Forward: Reclaiming American Soil

Security experts and policy analysts have outlined clear steps the federal government can take to address the CCP farmland threat:

1. Federal legislation mandating forced divestment of CCP-owned properties near sensitive sites within a defined timeframe (e.g., 12 months)

2. Expanded CFIUS authority to retroactively review and reverse land deals threatening national security

3. Executive orders directing federal agencies to identify, track, and block CCP land ownership

4. Coordinated federal-state action to close ownership loopholes and shell company structures

5. Use of eminent domain to seize properties presenting clear national security risks

The legal foundation for these actions already exists. As national security law experts note, "The feds have clear authority under existing statutes to seize these properties through eminent domain for national security."

Obstacles to Action

Despite the clear threat and available solutions, several factors have impeded decisive action:

• Lobbying by agricultural conglomerates and financial institutions that profit from foreign investment

• Bureaucratic inertia and risk aversion within federal agencies

• Misplaced concerns about property rights for foreign adversaries

• Prioritization of short-term economic gains over long-term security

These obstacles reflect what critics call "globalist complacency" over national security—a willingness to sacrifice strategic interests for commercial convenience.

Time for Decisive Action

The CCP farmland ownership crisis demands immediate, decisive action. Every day of delay increases America's vulnerability and sends a signal that the United States is unwilling to defend its own soil.

The solution requires:

• Comprehensive audit of every acre of foreign-owned farmland

• Immediate restrictions on new acquisitions near sensitive sites

• Forced divestment of existing properties threatening national security

• Coordination between federal and state authorities to close loopholes

As one security analyst concluded, "If you want to know who's asleep at the wheel, just look at the agencies that still can't answer the simple question: 'Who owns our land?'" It's time to wake up and reclaim American soil from foreign adversaries who have been allowed to establish footholds in our heartland.

The Trump administration has signaled its commitment to addressing this threat through a comprehensive policy approach that puts American security first. With proper coordination between federal agencies and state governments, the CCP's strategic land grab can be reversed, restoring both national security and economic stability to America's agricultural heartland.