U.S. Congressional Candidate Blake Masters (R-AZ-8), left, and General Secretary of the Chinese Communisty Party Xi Jinping | Facebook / Gov.cn
U.S. Congressional Candidate Blake Masters (R-AZ-8), left, and General Secretary of the Chinese Communisty Party Xi Jinping | Facebook / Gov.cn
U.S. Congressional Candidate Blake Masters (R-AZ-8) said that he'll work to pass a ban on Chinese Communist Party ownership of U.S. land if elected to Congress.
His comments followed a Grand Canyon Times report that almost 10,000 acres of Arizona farmland is owned owned by Chinese interests.
“What’s the correct amount of Arizona land that should be owned by the Chinese? Zero," Masters told NW Valley Times. "We simply shouldn’t allow it. When I’m in Congress, I’ll push for a ban on CCP ownership of American soil.”
9,892 acres of Arizona agricultural land is owned by Chinese interests, reported the Grand Canyon Times this week. The Chinese-owned land is concentrated in Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Smithfield Foods, and a billionaire named Sun Guangxin, through Brazos Highland Properties LP and Harvest Texas LLC., own more than 80% of Chinese-owned land in the U.S., according to NPR reporting based on USDA data.
In total, Chinese interests own 383,935 acres of land across the U.S.
Masters is one of five candidates currently running in the Republican primary to represent the 8th Congressional District. The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R), who announced last year that she will be retiring at the end of the current term.
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How much land is owned by Chinese interests in your county?
Source: USDA (Detailed data for foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land through December 31, 2021)
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