The chair of the America First Policy Institute’s China Policy Initiative has taken his campaign against the Chinese Communist Party’s ownership of American farmland to the South Dakota capitol.
China expert Steve Yates visited the South Dakota capitol on Jan. 30 to meet with legislators and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who supports food and farm security, according to America First Policy Institute’s Facebook page.
“AFPI’s Steve Yates and Adam Savit visit the South Dakota Capitol to inform legislators about the threat from CCP ownership of U.S. agricultural land and support Governor Kristi Noem’s efforts to protect South Dakotans and Americans from the CCP’s malign influence!” the institute’s Facebook page said.
A non-profit, non-partisan research institute, America First Policy Institute advances polices that put Americans first, its website said. Yates, who previously was president of Radio Free Asia and deputy assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney for national security affairs, has a master’s degree in China studies from the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, his biography said.
“The CCP is a dangerous adversary of the United States, politically and economically, with the stated intention of overtaking us,” Yates said in a press release before his visit to South Dakota.
“Securing and dominating world food supply chains is an integral part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which also sees them hoarding computer chips, minerals, and other sensitive commodities. South Dakota should lead the way in this mission by preventing the CCP and its subsidiaries from controlling the agricultural land rightfully belonging to South Dakota citizens.”
Chinese Communist Party ownership of U.S. agricultural land threatens the nation’s security, as China is an adversary who wants to overtake the U.S., the institute said in an October 2022 report.
Citing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, America First Policy Institute said that the amount of U.S. agricultural land held by Chinese entities rose from 13,720 acres in 2010 to 352,140 acres in 2020.
“The average U.S. farm is 445 acres, so nearly 800 American families could potentially farm this acreage,” the institute said.
Fourteen states, including South Dakota, have enacted laws banning the Chinese Communist Party from owning agricultural land, the institute said.
Noem said in a December 2022 opinion article that states need to do what they can to stand up to China and that South Dakota will lead by example.
“Most recently, I announced my plan to block purchases of agricultural land by nations that hate us, and I will work with legislators to make that happen,” Noem said in the opinion article.
“We will create a new board, called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – South Dakota, which will make recommendations to me regarding foreign interests trying to purchase ag land in South Dakota. If they are tied to China or another nation that hates us, I will reject the purchase.”
Before Yates’ trip to South Dakota, Noem agreed with Yates’ interview on Fox Business in which he said that the majority within the states should be allowed to protect American people, families and jobs.
“@A1Policy's @YatesComms is 100% spot on — China is a threat to our way of life, and it’s up to Republican Governors to take a stand against the CCP when Biden won’t! And in South Dakota, we are doing just that to protect our people from Communist Chinese influence,” Noem tweeted on Twitter.
Noem said in a Jan. 30 Facebook post that she was grateful for the discussion with Yates and that “Together, we will protect our ag land and way of life from the CCP.”
The America First Policy Institute released model legislation "Liberty for Our Agricultural Land Act" for state legislative sessions based on parts of South Carolina House 4825 and Arizona Senate Bill 1342.
The model legislation states that “Neither the CCP, its members, nor any company or development owned or controlled by a company that is owned, in whole or in part, by, or is a subsidiary of the People’s Republic of China or the CCP or whose principal place of business is located within the People’s Republic of China may own, in whole or in part, or lease, possess, or exercise any control over any agricultural land in this state. Furthermore, a deed for any such real estate conveyance in which the CCP or its members are the recipients is deemed invalid.”
