Steven Yates and Adam Savit of America First Policy Institute recently visited South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to support her efforts as well as advise legislators of the threat of the Chinese Communist Party on American land and influence.
Noem posted on Facebook Jan. 30, saying if President Joe Biden won’t protect the United States from China, South Dakota will. She said she was grateful for the discussion she had with AFPI’s Steve Yates.
“AFPI’s @YatesComms and @AdamSavit visit the South Dakota Capitol to inform legislators about the threat from CCP ownership of U.S. agricultural land & support @govkristinoem’s efforts to protect South Dakotans and Americans from the CCP’s malign influence!” AFPI posted on Twitter.
“Together, we will protect our ag land and way of life from the CCP,” Noem said in her Facebook post.
Yates said South Dakota farmland is important and the CCP must not be able to purchase agricultural land on U.S. soil in a Jan. 30 op-ed for the Dakota Scout. He said communities are able to build and maintain strong relationships through agriculture.
“Many farmers are deeply rooted in their communities and take pride in their work. South Dakota is home to a vibrant agricultural community that has existed for generations,” he said in the Dakota Scout.
He said the state’s farmland is being threatened by the CCP, which is “spreading malign influence at all levels of our society to undermine us,” according to the Dakota Scout.
As a top adversary politically and economically, Yates argued China is determined to dominate supply chains to overtake the United States, along with Chinese investors who have begun to purchase large amounts of American agricultural land. He called it a national security issue, the Dakota Scout reported.
Keloland Media Group reported on AFPI’s visit with Noem in which they discussed her plan to put together a committee to regulate whether foreign companies or entities could purchase farmland in South Dakota. Noem’s policy director, Rachel Ogelsby, said the legislation will be filed in the coming days.
Yates said the CCP attempts to infiltrate a country by purchasing or taking over many parts of society. He said Ellsworth Air Force Base could be a powerful target for the CPP to acquire, according to Keloland Media Group.
"[Chinese investors] see the value of American assets as a safe harbor for them," Yates said, according to Keloland Media Group. "That means the Communist Party of China can use them as points of leverage if something were to occur.”
