US States Ramp Up Efforts to Block Chinese Land Purchases

Several US states are passing or considering measures to ban foreign entities, particularly China, from buying farmland, citing concerns about national security and food security. Florida, Virginia, North Dakota, Montana, and Arkansas are among the states that have passed variations of such bills this legislative term. While proponents argue that these measures are necessary to protect sensitive installations, some experts warn against knee-jerk responses and call for lawmakers to act on evidence, not suspicion. Critics also see echoes of past discriminatory laws in the United States like the Chinese Exclusion Act.