Cold War 2.0? As Chinese buy more land in US, movement for new laws gathers pace amid national security concerns

Many states have already implemented laws to curb farmland sales to foreign investors and entities. In 2023 alone, a dozen states passed legislation restricting foreign investment in agricultural land, as per the National Agricultural Law Center. Concerned over reports of land purchases by Chinese citizens and companies in the US, state legislators, predominantly in Republican strongholds, are proposing and enacting a series of laws to restrict such purchases, citing rising national security concerns. A Politico report highlights the surge in legislative activity aimed at addressing what lawmakers perceive as a significant and escalating threat to national security. According to data…