Republicans in the Senate initiate campaign to prohibit Chinese citizens from acquiring property in the United States.

Republican senators are proposing a bill to prohibit China from acquiring any U.S. land.

The Not One More Inch or Acre Act, championed by Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, and Katie Britt of Alabama, would mandate the sale of land owned or influenced by the CCP that poses a national security risk. It would also instruct the president to take action to prevent Chinese citizens or companies from purchasing public or private real estate in the U.S.

As of last year, around 350,000 acres of farmland were owned by China across 27 states, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Nearly 2% of all U.S. land is owned by foreign entities and individuals, as of 2022, with a total of 43.4 million acres.

Since many of China's land purchases are near military installations, lawmakers have contended that they pose a national security risk. For years, Chinese nationals have attempted to breach U.S. military facilities, frequently employing surveillance drones or posing as tourists.

The Chinese Communist Party has been acquiring American farmland and real estate for many years, according to Senator Cotton.

"The worst-case scenario is that these purchases serve as outposts for Chinese espionage campaigns against American businesses and military bases. We cannot allow Chinese citizens or anyone affiliated with the CCP to own any more American soil. Any American land currently exploited by Chinese ownership should be sold."

Some states have already barred foreign nationals from purchasing land.

With 110,000 acres of land, Smithfield Foods, a company with a Chinese parent, holds the largest share of Chinese-owned land.

In 2022, the acquisition of 370 acres by Fufeng Group for corn milling near a North Dakota Air Force base sparked intense worries.

"The acquisition of one acre of American farmland by the Chinese Communist Party is one acre too many, according to Britt. The CCP's strategic acquisition of farmland, particularly near our military installations, poses a national security risk and threatens our economic and food security."

The Biden administration proposed a rule that mandates government approval for any foreign individual or company seeking to purchase land within 100 miles of specific U.S. military bases.

In San Francisco International Airport last month, a Chinese national was detained before boarding a flight to China due to allegations of attempting to fly a drone over Vandenberg Air Force base in California.

Republican lawmakers in both chambers have intensified their efforts to prevent China from acquiring U.S. farmland near military bases.

Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, who led efforts in the House to prevent China from acquiring farmland suitable for energy production, expressed concern that countries like China have increased their purchases of American farmland tenfold over the last decade, which he believes is a threat to our land, food, energy, and national security.