Under the guise of so-called “economic sovereignty,” a growing number of US states have been pushing a troubling trend of restricting land purchases by Chinese nationals in recent years.
On July 8, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed over a dozen bills into law, including a new measure that limits land purchases in the state by entities linked to China, drawing significant attention.
According to local media reports, the new law prohibits individuals, businesses, and other entities associated with the Chinese government from buying agricultural land or land near sensitive areas, such as military facilities, in North Carolina. Supporters have hyped this as a step to protect national security and prevent potential foreign influence over critical infrastructure and strategic assets.
In recent years, several US states have tightened restrictions on foreign land purchases, targeting countries including China, Russia, and Iran. North Carolina’s latest legislation is seen as another example of this ongoing trend at the state level.
In response to such moves by US states, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has previously emphasized that politicizing economic and trade issues under the guise of national security runs counter to the principles of market economy and international trade rules, undermining confidence in the US market environment.
On the same day, Stein also signed several other bills covering issues like cracking down on cryptocurrency scams and improving efficiency in motor vehicle management departments.
