Rep. Brian Mast, (R-Fla.), said in a recent blog post that the United States needs to take a strong stand against China’s ambitions in the interest of national security, including cracking down on CCP purchases of agricultural land here.
"Xi Jinping has one goal: override the United States and make China the global superpower. In order to do that, he is attacking freedom and democracy worldwide. The United States is Target #1. Already, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has exploited America’s free market system and become the second largest economy in the world,” Rep. Brian Mast, (R-FL), said in the blog "Why Is China Purchasing Land Across From A U.S. Military Base?" published Oct. 19 on Mast's Congressional web page.
"At the same time, Xi is pushing the envelope when it comes to the military. Recent reporting shows that a CCP-affiliated corporation purchased farmland in North Dakota that is just a stone’s throw from high-capability military bases.”
A recent fact sheet released Oct. 13 by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) states that banning the CCP from purchasing American agricultural land is not a partisan issue, it is a national security issue.
“The purchase raises the possibility that the Chinese government could use the farmland as a launching pad for espionage under the guise of operating a business,” Mast said, according to the release. “That is why I joined other Republicans and called on the Biden Administration to use every tool at its disposal to protect the integrity of our military. China has made its intentions very clear, and the United States cannot allow the CCP to succeed. I will continue to push the Administration to take action and stand strong against China.”
In September, Mast signed onto a letter to the Secretaries of Defense, Agriculture, and the Treasury raising awareness of the Fufeng Group’s purchase of property near the Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. The letter highlighted the Fufeng Group has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and warned the purchase could serve as a model for adversaries to encroach on American security.
American farmland is a strategic asset that enables the U.S. to maintain food security and independence, according to an AFPI news release. But China’s Belt and Road Initiative includes the goal of controlling global food supply chains. Citing documents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the report found that the amount of U.S. farmland owned by Chinese entities rose from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020.
In September, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) proposed a bill that would ban China, as well as “foreign countries of concern,” from buying farmland, according to the AFPI. Fourteen states have laws in place that prohibit the CCP from owning farmland, the AFPI statement reports - Arizona, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
AFPI also released model legislation for 2023 state legislative sessions as an example for how states can enact bans on CCP purchases of American farmland. The sample bill is titled “Liberty for Our Agricultural Land Act” and draws partially on South Carolina’s H 4845.
Mast served in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, during which time he lost both of his legs while working as a bomb disposal expert, according to his website. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his service. He is serving his third term representing Florida's Eighteenth District in Congress.
