Arizona's political landscape is currently embroiled in a contentious debate following Governor Katie Hobbs's decision to veto a bill aimed at curbing the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) acquisition of land within the state.
The legislation, which sought to prohibit the CCP from holding a significant interestdefined as 30% or morein Arizona land, was championed by the Republican Party. The bill's proponents argued that it was a necessary measure to safeguard national security interests, particularly in light of concerns about espionage and surveillance activities.
Initially, Democrats expressed concerns that the bill might lead to discriminatory practices in property transactions. However, as reported by The Post Millennial, an amendment was introduced in May to narrow the bill's focus exclusively to the CCP, rather than targeting all businesses from nations identified as adversaries by the director of national intelligence.
This revision facilitated the bill's passage in the Arizona House with a 41-17 vote, garnering support from eight Democrats. The Arizona Senate also approved the measure, albeit strictly along party lines.
Governor Hobbs, however, rejected the bill, citing its ineffectiveness in counter-espionage and lack of direct protection for military assets. Her veto message stated, "Today, I vetoed Senate Bill 1109. Improvements to systems that protect our infrastructure are important. However, this legislation is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets. Additionally, it lacks clear implementation criteria and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement."
State Senator Janae Shamp, the bill's sponsor, emphasized the legislation's intent to shield American national interests, particularly military installations, from potential CCP surveillance. During a February debate, Shamp highlighted instances of CCP attempts to lease properties near strategic sites like the Luke Air Force Base.
"The actual Chinese government, our enemy, was trying to lease buildings near the (Luke Air Force) base," Shamp remarked, according to the Arizona Mirror. She criticized the governor's veto as "politically motivated" and "utterly insane," accusing Hobbs of obstructing efforts to protect citizens from foreign threats.
Michael Lucci, CEO and founder of State Armor Action, echoed these concerns, warning of the national security risks posed by allowing the CCP to acquire land near critical infrastructure. "Governor Hobbss veto of SB 1109 hangs an 'Open for the CCP' sign on Arizonas front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductors growing fabrication footprint," Lucci stated, as reported by Fox News. He further criticized Hobbs's assessment of the bill, asserting that her stance was "substantively and completely wrong."
The debate over this legislation underscores broader concerns about national security and foreign influence, particularly from adversarial nations like China.
As tensions continue to simmer, the question remains whether Arizona will find a path forward that balances economic interests with the imperative to protect its strategic assets.
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