Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall recently expressed his concerns about the Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland and the potential threats it poses to America's food security and national security. In an interview with Evening Edit on Fox Business, Senator Marshall highlighted the need for greater awareness and action regarding this issue.

Senator Marshall emphasized the importance of food security, stating that "Food security is national security." He drew attention to the alarming fact that thousands of Chinese nationals have entered the country without proper tracking, posing a potential risk. Additionally, he expressed his worries about the ownership of land by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) across the country. He stated, "I’m also concerned about CCP ownership of land across the country when we don’t know where they’re buying it and how much of it."

Furthermore, Senator Marshall pointed out that China's influence extends beyond land ownership. He highlighted the acquisition of Smithfield, a company responsible for 25% of pork processing in the United States. This example underscores the larger issue of China's encroachment into critical sectors of the American economy, including agriculture. Senator Marshall voiced his concerns about China stealing intellectual property through its infiltration of universities engaged in agricultural research and development.

The senator criticized the Biden administration for its lack of awareness and management of Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland. He stated, "This is another example of the incompetence of the Biden administration. They actually have no idea we have no idea what China owns and where they own it. And that’s the incompetence of the whole situation. So how can you manage it if you can’t measure it?"

To address this issue, Senator Marshall called for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assess the threat posed by Chinese ownership of farmland on a case-by-case basis. He emphasized the importance of tracking and protecting national security interests in relation to land ownership. Senator Marshall stated, "We want the USDA on a case by case basis to decide whether this is a threat to our national security or not, so we can keep track of it better, but mostly make sure that we protect our national security. It’s that simple."

As concerns grow over China's influence in key sectors of the U.S. economy, Senator Marshall's call for increased vigilance and action on Chinese ownership of U.S. farmland highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to safeguard America's food security and national interests.