Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

The Chinese Are Coming?

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by

Dick Hall-Sizemore
in , ,

Photo credit: Va. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

by Dick Hall-Sizemore

Remember when Gov. Glenn Youngkin was warning us about the dangers of the Chinese owning “the rich and vibrant agricultural lands God has blessed us with?”

Even the publisher of Bacon’s Rebellion thought that was far-fetched.

At Youngkin’s urging, the General Assembly passed legislation prohibiting any “foreign adversary” from acquiring “any interest in agricultural land in the Commonwealth.”  The legislation required the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to issue an annual report, beginning July 1, 2023, on the amount of total farmland in the Commonwealth under foreign ownership.

The first report has been issued.  As of 12/30/2021, there were 45 different countries identified as the nationality of the foreign interest in parcels of agricultural land in the Commonwealth. The parcels totaled 254,494 acres, 1.2 percent of the total privately-held agricultural land in the Commonwealth.  The country identified with the most parcels was France.

Companies or individuals from China owned 13,890 acres, 5.5 percent of the total foreign-owned acres.  Of the Chinese holding, 13,389 acres, 96 percent, were farms that were included in the Smithfield Foods acquisition.  The acquisition of those acres in 2013 was the last time any corporation or individual associated with China acquired farmland in the Commonwealth.

It seems that Virginia’s “rich and vibrant agricultural lands” are safe from the Chinese.  Those Canadian solar and timber companies are another matter, however.

Because the requirement for the report is embedded in the Code, this report will take its place alongside many other reports that agencies are required to spend time preparing, only to have them be ignored.

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22 responses to “The Chinese Are Coming?”

  1. James C. Sherlock Avatar
    James C. Sherlock

    What is the point of this article, Dick? It is objectively a good idea to monitor the Chinese. We will be at war with them within a decade unless they have a revolution.

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      If we’re going to monitor the Chinese acquisition of agricultural land, let’s see a little analysis to go along with the monitoring. The collecting of information regarding Chinese farmland ownership is, by itself, meaningless.

      What do we suppose the Chinese are up to? How do we suppose American interests are being harmed by the Chinese purchase of farmland? Can we show they are doing anything nefarious? Who is purchasing the land — are they government-affiliated entities or are they Chinese citizens and corporations seeking to diversify their assets?

      Clearly, the Chinese are doing a lot of nefarious things when it comes to industrial espionage. That warrants monitoring and action. I’d much rather see updated reports on Chinese influence in our corporations and institutions of higher education.

      1. VaPragamtist Avatar
        VaPragamtist

        Agriculture is a major industry critical to our economy and sustaining life. Land is essential for agriculture. Land is a finite asset. Foreign ownership of agricultural land poses a major threat.

        From my comment below, Chinese agricultural land ownership only increased about 550 acres from 2015 to 2019. Then ownership jumped 30% from 2019 to 2020, from some 247,000 acres to roughly 352,000.

        It’s not the amount of land currently owned, but the upward trend. Waiting until the land is gone is too late. Mitigating any potential threat to our economic security by monitoring and restricting ownership by foreign entities is smart.

    2. Lefty665 Avatar
      Lefty665

      “We will be at war with them within a decade unless they have a revolution.”

      Or unless we do and push the war demented neocons out of the driver’s seat.

      1. how_it_works Avatar
        how_it_works

        “push the war demented neocons out of the driver’s seat”

        Northern Virginia’s economy might take a huge beating if that happens.

        1. Lefty665 Avatar
          Lefty665

          I would not weep for the beltway bandits if the market became less lucrative. The nation and the world would benefit.

          1. how_it_works Avatar
            how_it_works

            Just let it happen AFTER I’ve moved out of Virginia.

            (Notice I said out of Virginia, not out of Northern Virginia..)

    3. ChatGPT Says Avatar
      ChatGPT Says

      User: Will the US be at war with China soon?

      ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have access to real-time information or the ability to predict specific future events. It is not possible for me to say whether the United States will be at war with China soon or provide a timeline for such a possibility.

      International relations and the possibility of conflict between nations are complex and influenced by a variety of factors, including political, economic, and strategic considerations. While tensions and disagreements may arise between countries, it is important to note that diplomatic efforts and negotiations are typically prioritized to prevent or resolve conflicts peacefully.

      Both the United States and China have significant economic and diplomatic relationships, as well as shared interests in areas such as trade, security, and global stability. While there may be areas of competition and disagreement between the two nations, it is crucial to monitor current events, engage with reliable news sources, and rely on expert analysis to stay informed about the evolving dynamics in international relations.

      Promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive engagement between countries is generally considered crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the global community.

  2. VaPragamtist Avatar
    VaPragamtist

    The USDA requires foreign entities who buy U.S. agricultural land to file a report within 90 days disclosing what they bought. The reporting requirement of the legislation seems almost redundant, but at least the data is easy to obtain.

    The concern isn’t necessarily the amount of land owned at present by China and Chinese nationals, but rather the sudden Chinese interest in American agricultural land and the significant jump in ownership. From Forbes:

    Chinese agricultural land ownership only increased about 550 acres from 2015 to 2019. Then ownership jumped 30% from 2019 to 2020, from some 247,000 acres to roughly 352,000. U.S. companies with Chinese shareholders more than doubled their acreage that year, accounting for 102,000 acres of the growth. China acquired another 32,000 U.S. agricultural acres in 2021—not as much as they scooped up in 2020, but 98% higher than their combined growth between 2015 and 2019.

    Agriculture is still among the leading industries in Virginia and most states. It’s not a bad idea to take measures to protect the industry, even before a potential threat is realized.

  3. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    “Because the requirement for the report is embedded in the Code, this report will take its place alongside many other reports that agencies are required to spend time preparing, only to have them be ignored.”

    Gotta disagree with the implication. It’s information. Always worthwhile… to someone. And, given search engines and the internet, available to the curious for forever…. Hopefully.

    Why lookie, China owns 0.055 of the 0.012 of Virginia’s farmland.

    That tiny bit of information alone gives me authority to add Youngkin’s “The Chinese are coming! The Chinese are coming!”, right up there with his “Rat out the Woke Teacher” hotline.

    See, information has value.

  4. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    Well, well…

    Are golf courses considered arable land? Remember how Japan was going to “own us” in the 80s when they snapped up golf courses and a big ranch in Wyoming?

    The Republicans lit their hair afire then too.

    I seem to recall poor ol’ Dad huffing ‘n puffin’ about the “basterds” he fought in the Pacific owning Pebble Beach and “I’ll be damned if I’ll watch the Pro/Am, so long as those basterds own the course,…” as he flipped the channels between Fox News and NBC just to catch the leaderboard once in awhile.

    “It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” — Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (7 Jul 1907-1988)

    1. WayneS Avatar
      WayneS

      “It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” — Robert A. Heinlein, science-fiction author (7 Jul 1907-1988)

      The climate change fanatics have proven the validity of that adage.

      😉

      1. Nancy Naive Avatar
        Nancy Naive

        So have abortion ban proponents. 😉

        1. Stephen Haner Avatar
          Stephen Haner

          Got that one backwards. Who is sacrificing children on the altar of political correctness in this debate?

          1. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            Well, that could be you…

            If the goal is living children, and a child needs a kidney then why can’t the State compel you to donate one?

            Why should you have more autonomy (even postmortem) than a woman the State is forcing to give birth to a product of rape and incest?

  5. f/k/a_tmtfairfax Avatar
    f/k/a_tmtfairfax

    Can Americans and American companies buy agricultural land in China?

  6. DJRippert Avatar
    DJRippert

    The Chi-Coms will invade Taiwan by the end of the 2020s.
    Depending on who is president, America will take one of three paths:

    1. Follow Obama’s lead when Russia first invaded Ukraine and effectively do nothing.
    2. Follow Biden’s lead when Russia invaded Ukraine the second time and try to arm the Taiwanese. However, getting arms to an island would be a far more challenging problem than getting arms to a country with a long land border with allies.
    3. Follow Johnson’s lead and commit large numbers of US troops to actually fight.

    Under any of those three scenarios, sanctions will be enforced.

    Last year Congress passed the Chips and Science Act pf 2022 which committed $52.7B to strengthening our domestic semi-conductor manufacturing capability.

    Why?

    Because it’s hard to rely on the semi-conductor supply chain when the country that makes so many semi-conductors is in an active war zone.

    Apparently, everybody can see this coming except Dick.

    1. Stephen Haner Avatar
      Stephen Haner

      Well, the better parallel is Truman who sent Americans to defend South Korea. Either we commit the full military strength needed or we do nothing. And the best we could do in the 1950s against a weaker China was battle to a draw. Land wars in Asia…

      As long as the land purchases are registered, who cares? If they try to place a battalion or missile battery on the property, we’ll kinda know.

    2. Lefty665 Avatar
      Lefty665

      In regard to Taiwan in particular. We have NO defense agreement with Taiwan. Nixon engineered the replacement of Taiwan in the UN with the mainland. Since then we have recognized Taiwan as part of China, but temporarily separately administered.

      Ambiguity has been the name of our policy, at least until Biden stuck his foot in his mouth several times and had to be walked back. Same with Pelosi and others.

      We can have a war with China if we decide to precipitate it as we did in Ukraine. The Chinese would rather continue to sell us lots of stuff. But our neocon morons are itching for another losing battle to fight, and we are letting them drive. Go figure.

  7. ChatGPT Says Avatar
    ChatGPT Says

    User: Are the Chinese buying up agricultural land in the US?

    ChatGPT: Yes, Chinese entities have been involved in the acquisition of agricultural land in the United States. Over the past decade, there have been reports and concerns about foreign investment, including Chinese investment, in American farmland. However, it’s important to note that the extent and impact of Chinese investment in U.S. agricultural land can vary over time and across different regions.

    Chinese investment in U.S. agricultural land primarily took place between 2009 and 2017. During that period, Chinese entities, including individuals, corporations, and government-backed firms, made significant acquisitions of agricultural land. These acquisitions raised concerns about food security, potential control over strategic resources, and the long-term implications for the U.S. agricultural sector.

    To address these concerns, the U.S. government has implemented regulations and monitoring mechanisms to oversee foreign investment in agricultural land. The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors, including Chinese investors, to report acquisitions of agricultural land to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

    It’s worth noting that the dynamics of foreign investment in U.S. agricultural land can change over time due to factors such as economic conditions, government policies, and geopolitical developments. For the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on Chinese investment in U.S. agricultural land, it is advisable to refer to recent studies, reports, and reliable news sources that specialize in this subject.

  8. Stephen Haner Avatar
    Stephen Haner

    Which of the wineries are owned by the French? 🙂

    Politicians can’t fix the insoluble problems, so on both sides they invent problems they can pretend to fix.

  9. walter smith Avatar
    walter smith

    One would be wise to recognize that the Communist Chinese are an enemy and act accordingly.
    Is it “coincidence” when China acquires farmland near military bases?
    How about supply chains? Is it wise to have basically all generics sourced from China? Manufacturing? Should US pay more attention to food supply? Medical supply? Computer chip supply?
    How about China shipping fentanyl ingredients to Mexico?
    Eyes wide open people…
    Instead of trans rights. CLIMATE!, stupid electric cars, killing babies, etc…

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