Missouri Republican Gov. Michael Parson signed an executive order Tuesday banning foreign adversaries from purchasing land near military bases, citing espionage concerns.
a press release The governor's office said: Executive Order 24-01 “Prohibits individuals and companies from countries designated as foreign enemies from purchasing domestic agricultural land.” 10 mile radius of an important military installation in Missouri. ”
“Significant military installations” include “all military installations with personnel” in the state, it added. Countries currently designated as foreign enemies include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.
Under current Missouri law, foreign farmland purchases are limited to 1% of the state's total farmland. The governor's executive order aims to make these requirements more stringent and provides additional oversight authority to the Missouri Department of Agriculture by requiring Missouri Department of Agriculture approval for all foreign farmland purchases, a department press release said. He pointed out that the purpose is to provide MDAs will receive additional funding to ensure they have the resources to implement new protections.
during tuesday Press conference“With growing concerns over ownership of Missouri farmland by foreign adversaries, particularly China, we are committed to protecting our military and intelligence assets, preventing security threats to our state, and providing additional security to Missourians,” Parson said. I sign this order to give you peace of mind.”
“When it comes to China and other foreign adversaries, we must take common-sense precautions to protect Missourians and our nation's security resources,” he added.
Mr. Parson said his executive order would allow “Missouri to engage with foreign allies, including Israel, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and many other countries that have a long-standing presence in Missouri and employ thousands of Missourians.” “This will not affect the state's valuable economic partnership.” stated in the press release.
According to the governor's report, foreign companies have invested about $19 billion in Missouri over the past five years and created about 150,000 jobs in the state.
“Missouri is home to many friendly employers with strong economic ties to our state, and we need to ensure that we do not disrupt Missouri's economy or the lives and livelihoods of Missourians. Common sense decisions. A balanced approach must always prevail, and Missouri must always remain open to doing business with our allies,'' Parson continued. “Therefore, we are confident that this order will give us the authority to fully protect Missouri's security interests from potential bad actors while also protecting our allies, our good economic partners, and our allies from repression. I believe that it does not punish good individuals who came to our country legally in search of a better society.'' “
The governor said state law precludes him from enforcing stricter regulations.
“Believe me, if I had the power, I would talk about banning not just agricultural land, but all commercial real estate by foreign adversaries,” he added.
anything else?
During October Arkansas Statute 636 A ban on land ownership by prohibited foreign parties, including China, has come into effect, Blaze News previously reported.
The U.S. Treasury Department continues to investigate California farmland purchased by Flannery Associates, an investment group affiliated with China. The group, which claims to be backed by American investors seeking to build walkable cities, has spent nearly $1 billion since 2017 acquiring about 52,000 acres of land near military bases. Blaze News previously reported.
Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy said. new york post In November, federal officials said the acquisition was still under investigation because “we cannot say 100% that China is not involved in financing this.”
“Some investors already have deep business ties to China,” she noted.
According to the paper, Flannery Associates told the Post there were “no foreign investors” other than those already disclosed to the federal government.
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