Michigan arrests of Chinese nationals raise concerns of CCP agricultural land

The recent arrests of Chinese nationals at the University of Michigan have resurrected concerns about agricultural land and properties belonging to the CCP in the United States, in particular in Michigan, and have made parallels with the current conflict between Iran and Israel.

Earlier this month, two Chinese nationals were accused of allegedly smuggling A “dangerous biological pathogen” in the United States to study at the University of Michigan in an incident that the director of the FBI, Kash Patel, described as a “reminder which gives to think that the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) continues to deploy agents and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could paralyze our economy and our American life.”

Later, a third Chinese national with links with the university was arrested, renewing questions about China’s efforts to infiltrate and influence various sectors in the United States, in particular by buying agricultural land, which was an increasing concern at the national level.

A 2023 report From the United States Department of Agriculture found that “foreigners had an interest in nearly 45 million acres of American agricultural land”, which represents 3.5% of all private agricultural land and 2% of all land in the country.

New legislation aims to say to China “no” on the purchase of American agricultural land

Experts warn that the recent current events symbolize a call for “awakening” to the threat that China poses in the United States. (Getty)

Although China is not at the top of the list of countries in this report, Michigan’s arrests have aroused calls from the congress to ensure that the CCP, considered by many as the best geopolitical adversary in the country, does not buy agricultural land in the United States.

Republican senator Pete Ricketts told Fox News Digital This week, China has bought American agriculture aggressively, “which is why we must have a feeling of increased vigilance to protect our homeland”.

Ricketts, with Democratic Senator John Fetterman, presented the Bipartisan Disclosure of foreign agricultural investment (Afida) Improvement Loct which seeks to implement recommendations published by The Office of the Government of Responsibility in January 2024, which noted that Afida was poorly equipped to combat foreign ownership of American agricultural land.

“China’s land purchases are not an area area – they are on access,” Michigan Gop representative, John Moolenaar, president of the selective chamber committee, told Fox News.

“Even small plots near military bases or critical infrastructure present serious national security risks. In my country of origin, we have seen cases like the Godion site near Camp Grayling. We need total transparency in which the land buys and where – because the Chinese Communist Party should not be authorized to hide behind obstacle companies to gain land in our country.”

The director of the FBI, Patel, leads to the derogation of Chinese influence on American soil

Chinese President Xi Jinping adjusts his jacket while he wants to sing the national anthem during the closing session of the National People’s Congress held in the Great Salle of the Pekin People. (AP photo / ng han guan)

China’s encroachment in Michigan agriculture was sufficient Introduce legislation Earlier this year, prohibiting foreign opponents from buying agricultural land.

“The agricultural industry of our State is a pillar of our economy. My community is an agricultural community,” said Johnsen. Our farms offer food security, jobs and economic stability for countless residents. However, it is increasingly worrying to lose our agricultural land because of countries of concern. “”

In addition, Chinese agricultural land has become a subject of conversation following revelations that Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear capacities has been helped by years of secret planning, surveillance and infiltration by Israeli information.

Appointed “Am Kelavi” (lion amount), the pre -emptive operation was the product of unprecedented coordination between the Israeli Air Force, the Military Intelligence Directorate, Mossad and the country’s defense industries. For years, they have worked “in the shoulder” to collect the necessary intelligence files to eliminate the most sensitive military and nuclear assets in Iran.

As part of this operation, Israel was able to establish a drone base Iran inside Iran, where Mossad agents recovered them hiding places to use it against Iranian sites.

Bryan Cunningham, president of Liberty Defense and former CIA intelligence officer, Fox News Digital told that the Israeli operation is an “alarm clock” for the United States on what a foreign opponent like China could potentially lead to the United States.

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Smoke rises from the construction of Iranian state television after an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran on Monday. (Photo ap)

“As an intelligence officer, part of me said, I want the sources and methods of building these drone factories to the interior of the target countries have not been revealed,” said Cunningham. “But on the other hand, it serves as alarm clock, hopefully for our decision-makers, and it is also linked, and if I was the administration, I would put it immediately and strong with the border strategy of the Trump administration.”

Cunningham continued: “Our borders are the place where you are most likely to intercept this kind of toxins, explosives, lighting rockets, 3D printed weapons, ceramic weapons, whatever. The guys brought this kind of material.”

The FBI increases its surveillance of agents supported by Iran inside the United States while Trump weighs strikes, a senior law enforcement told Fox News Friday.

Deirdre Heavey de Fox News Digital, Lucas Tomlinson and Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.