Revealed: Foreign countries own at least 40 million acres of US land

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Foreign countries own at least 40 million acres of US farmland, pastures and forests, which officials claimed ‘may have consequences for national security.’ A new watchdog report found ownership of investors and companies from nations like China , Russia and Iran has increased by 40 percent since 2016, with some plots near sensitive military facilities. But the estimates could be the tip of the iceberg because the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which did the report, told DailyMail.com that the government is not 'reliably' tracking data on land owners.

Foreign countries own at least 40 million acres of US farmland, pastures and forests, which officials claimed ‘may have consequences for national security.’ A new watchdog report found ownership of investors and companies from nations like China , Russia and Iran has increased by 40 percent since 2016, with some plots near sensitive military facilities. But the estimates could be the tip of the iceberg because the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which did the report, told DailyMail.com that the government is not 'reliably' tracking data on land owners.

Kimberly Gianopoulos, director of GAO, told DailyMail.com: 'Recent reporting about Chen Tianqiao holding 200,000 acres of agricultural land does not appear to be accounted for in USDA’s data.' Tianqiao earned his $4 billion fortune from online gaming and spent $85 million of it to purchase 198,000 acres in Oregon in 2015 but did not become known until this week. The 50-year-old has held executive roles in organizations affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is allegedly an admirer of Chairman Mao, according to Chinese media reports.

Kimberly Gianopoulos, director of GAO, told DailyMail.com: 'Recent reporting about Chen Tianqiao holding 200,000 acres of agricultural land does not appear to be accounted for in USDA’s data.' Tianqiao earned his $4 billion fortune from online gaming and spent $85 million of it to purchase 198,000 acres in Oregon in 2015 but did not become known until this week. The 50-year-old has held executive roles in organizations affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is allegedly an admirer of Chairman Mao, according to Chinese media reports.

'These investments may have consequences for U.S. national security,' reads the report. 'For example, there may be foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land close to sensitive military installations.' The new analysis has crossed the desks of several Democrats and Republicans who are outraged by the findings and demanding the Biden Administration clamp down on purchases ‘from adversaries.’

'These investments may have consequences for U.S. national security,' reads the report. 'For example, there may be foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land close to sensitive military installations.' The new analysis has crossed the desks of several Democrats and Republicans who are outraged by the findings and demanding the Biden Administration clamp down on purchases ‘from adversaries.’

Democratic Senator Jon Tester said in a statement: ‘While we learn more about the specifics around this unfolding situation, it highlights the need for Congress to do more to protect American agricultural security and prevent our foreign adversaries from controlling our country’s food supply while also gaining access to land near sensitive military sites.’

Democratic Senator Jon Tester said in a statement: ‘While we learn more about the specifics around this unfolding situation, it highlights the need for Congress to do more to protect American agricultural security and prevent our foreign adversaries from controlling our country’s food supply while also gaining access to land near sensitive military sites.’ 

A January Congressional Research Service report included data from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA), which established a nationwide system for collecting information pertaining to foreign ownership of US farmland. Data shows that 99 countries have a claim on US land and while Canada owns the most, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea also have a hold.

A January Congressional Research Service report included data from the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA), which established a nationwide system for collecting information pertaining to foreign ownership of US farmland. Data shows that 99 countries have a claim on US land and while Canada owns the most, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea also have a hold.

China-based investors and companies own croplands in 28 states, for a total of 186,823 acres. Most of the claims are in Texas with 192,000 acres, followed by 49,000 acres in North Carolina and Missouri and Utah with 34,000. Chinese firms own more than $2billion worth of US farmland, up from just $162 million a decade ago, according to the latest USDA figures. AFIDA data also included 131,000 acres in Texas that is also owned by a Chinese-based billionaire. Local realtors told DailyMail.com in September that David Frankens, from Lufkin, East Texas, sold the land to Sun Guangxin, a former captain in the Chinese military, for an estimated $110million between 2016 and 2018.

China-based investors and companies own croplands in 28 states, for a total of 186,823 acres. Most of the claims are in Texas with 192,000 acres, followed by 49,000 acres in North Carolina and Missouri and Utah with 34,000. Chinese firms own more than $2billion worth of US farmland, up from just $162 million a decade ago, according to the latest USDA figures. AFIDA data also included 131,000 acres in Texas that is also owned by a Chinese-based billionaire. Local realtors told DailyMail.com in September that David Frankens, from Lufkin, East Texas, sold the land to Sun Guangxin, a former captain in the Chinese military, for an estimated $110million between 2016 and 2018.

A report written by former CIA officials, seen by DailyMail.com last year, suggested the Chinese billionaire could be considered a national security risk by US authorities due to his extensive links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The list includes the Republic of Cuba, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Russian Federation and Venezuela under the Maduro Regime. Combined, investors of the nations own about 95,000 acres of agricultural land. In 2022, China’s Chemical manufacturing company Fufeng Group purchased 300 acres of farmland in North Dakota - 20 minutes from Grand Forks Air Force Base that is home to sensitive military drone technology.

A report written by former CIA officials, seen by DailyMail.com last year, suggested the Chinese billionaire could be considered a national security risk by US authorities due to his extensive links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The list includes the Republic of Cuba, Islamic Republic of Iran, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Russian Federation and Venezuela under the Maduro Regime. Combined, investors of the nations own about 95,000 acres of agricultural land. In 2022, China’s Chemical manufacturing company Fufeng Group purchased 300 acres of farmland in North Dakota - 20 minutes from Grand Forks Air Force Base that is home to sensitive military drone technology.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem recently shared a statement on: ‘In the last decade, China's holdings of American ag land have increased by 5,300 percent. ‘The states and Congress must work together to defend our nation from the Chinese Communist Party, especially given the lack of sufficient action from the Biden Administration.’ The congressional report determined that Canadian investors own the largest portion of foreign-held US agricultural land with 12.8 million acres.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem recently shared a statement on: ‘In the last decade, China's holdings of American ag land have increased by 5,300 percent. ‘The states and Congress must work together to defend our nation from the Chinese Communist Party, especially given the lack of sufficient action from the Biden Administration.’ The congressional report determined that Canadian investors own the largest portion of foreign-held US agricultural land with 12.8 million acres.

Following the North American country are investors from the Netherlands (4.9 million acres), Italy (2.7 million acres), the UK (2.5 million acres) and Germany (2.3 million acres). The total 40.8 million acres covers agricultural land and nonagricultural land. Forestland accounted for 47 percent of all foreign-owned land, cropland accounted for 29 percent and pasture and other agricultural land for 22 percent. Nonagricultural land (such as homesteads and roads) accounted for two percent. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12983609/America-40-MILLION-acres-land-militry-bases-China-Russia-Iran.html?ito=msngallery

Following the North American country are investors from the Netherlands (4.9 million acres), Italy (2.7 million acres), the UK (2.5 million acres) and Germany (2.3 million acres). The total 40.8 million acres covers agricultural land and nonagricultural land. Forestland accounted for 47 percent of all foreign-owned land, cropland accounted for 29 percent and pasture and other agricultural land for 22 percent. Nonagricultural land (such as homesteads and roads) accounted for two percent. Read the full story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-12983609/America-40-MILLION-acres-land-militry-bases-China-Russia-Iran.html?ito=msngallery

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