Texas lawmakers are intensifying efforts to prohibit foreign ownership of state land, with a particular focus on Chinese companies acquiring large tracts of land near critical infrastructure. During a legislative hearing today, concerns were raised over a Chinese company’s attempt to purchase 130,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base with plans to develop a wind farm.
The proposed acquisition has sparked significant alarm among Texas legislators and local advocacy groups, who see the move as a potential threat to national security. The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee has labeled China a direct threat to American security, emphasizing the risks posed by foreign entities with ties to adversarial governments operating near sensitive military sites.
Romey Swanson, representing the Devils River Conservancy, testified at the hearing, urging lawmakers to strengthen state laws regarding disclosure agreements in real estate transactions. Swanson highlighted the dangers of shell companies, often used to conceal the true ownership of land, which could enable foreign governments to gain control of critical land assets in the state without adequate oversight.
Swanson’s concerns extend beyond the mere ownership of land. He stressed the troubling affiliation between the Chinese Communist Party and the company attempting to acquire the land, arguing that allowing such entities to establish operations near military bases poses unacceptable risks to U.S. national security.
Swanson’s advocacy aligns with a broader legislative push to close loopholes that currently allow foreign companies, particularly those with connections to adversarial governments, to purchase land in Texas. Lawmakers are expected to introduce stricter regulations that would require greater transparency in real estate transactions, particularly those involving foreign entities, to prevent such acquisitions in the future.
As the legislative process continues, Texas remains on high alert, with state officials and local communities united in their determination to safeguard critical infrastructure and national security from potential foreign interference.
