In an exclusive report by Fox News Digital, it has been revealed that seventeen governors have issued a plea to federal leaders, including President Biden, to prevent foreign adversaries such as China from acquiring U.S. land.
The letter is spearheaded by Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and is co-signed by sixteen other GOP governors. The letter is addressed to President Biden, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and congressional leaders in both chambers. The governors are urging them to address the escalating issue of China's acquisition of American land, including farmland.
The governors wrote, "Numerous governors and state legislatures have taken action to protect our citizens from the imminent national security threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)." They further emphasized that national security requires a national response from national leaders. "The responsibility is now with you follow the lead of our States and prevent CCP amassing of American lands," they added.
The governors highlighted the fact that the communist regime in China is openly acquiring large portions of real property throughout the United States. They cited a recent instance where a subsidiary of a Chinese-controlled company purchased two hundred and seventy acres of land in Green Charter Township, Michigan, in close proximity to the Camp Grayling National Guard facility.
The governors expressed their disappointment that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States did not block or even review this transaction, which they described as "plainly alarming."
The Republican state executives criticized the Biden administration for failing to address this threat, while states have taken the initiative to protect the country's most valued resource the American people.
The governors also pointed out that a bipartisan group of eleven states has enacted "foreign ownership laws." Arkansas was the first state to act under such a law, ordering Syngenta Seeds, an agricultural company owned by the China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina), to divest 160 acres of land in the Diamond State.
The governors warned, "For too long, we have allowed dangerous and adversarial governments to infiltrate our country. Our States will tolerate such allowances no longer. The Biden Administration must reckon with the fact that such entities are plain threats to our national security, our farmers, and our citizenry."
They further cautioned that the threat has escalated since the CCP enacted a law in 2017 requiring Chinese citizens abroad to collaborate with Chinese security officials on intelligence work, without any questions asked.
The governors expressed their encouragement at seeing some members of Congress advancing legislation that would mitigate this threat. They urged for Congressional action to codify their stance into federal law.
The Republican governors also called on the Biden administration to utilize all available tools to prevent the continued acquisition of American lands by adversarial foreign governments until Congress passes legislation addressing this growing issue.
The governors clarified, "This is not about where anyone is from. Our states welcome Chinese Americans and anyone else who has escaped foreign oppression for American freedom. This is about where your loyalties lie."
They concluded with a stern warning, "We simply cannot trust those who pledge allegiance to a hostile foreign power."
The letter was sent to Biden and Yellen, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House, Treasury, and the offices of Johnson, Jeffries, Schumer, and McConnell for comment.
The signatories of the letter include Republican Governors Ron DeSantis of Florida, Brian Kemp of Georgia, Brad Little of Idaho, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Governor-elect Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Greg Gianforte of Montana, Jim Pillen of Nebraska, Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Bill Lee of Tennessee, Greg Abbott of Texas, Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Jim Justice of West Virginia, and Mark Gordon of Wyoming.
This plea from the governors comes at a time when American attitudes towards China are becoming increasingly negative. According to the annual Reagan National Defense Survey, the number of Americans who view China as an "enemy" of the U.S. is growing, while a majority support a buildup of American military personnel to deter a potential invasion of Taiwan.
The survey found that 77% of Americans view China as an enemy, a significant increase from 2018 when 38% of Americans viewed China as an ally, and 55% as an enemy. Furthermore, 51% of Americans view China as the greatest threat facing the nation, up from 43% last year and 21% in 2018. Conversely, the number of those viewing Russia as the greatest threat is falling, with just 24% viewing the nation as such, down from 31% last year following its invasion of Ukraine.
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