Indiana farmers raise national security fears as China buys up over 600 acres, as lawmakers try to ban purchases near military bases amid spying threat

Indiana legislators are considering a bill to ban certain ownership of farmland by China and other adversaries, following similar moves in dozens of other states.

Earlier this month, Indiana's state House unanimously approved a bill to prohibit any citizen of, or entity connected with, a 'foreign adversary' from buying any agricultural land in Indiana after July 1. 

This week a Senate committee approved the bill, adding language that prohibits purchases of any land, other than residential leases, within 50 miles of a military base or 10 miles of an armory or maintenance facility. 

It comes after Indiana's farmers and others raised concerns that Chinese land ownership in the state could pose a national security threat.

'This might be the most important bill we have in regards to securing all of the state of Indiana,' said Republican state Sen. Jean Leising, who sits on the Senate's Agriculture Committee, according to WTHR-TV.

China is identified as an owner of farmland in Indiana, with three separate entities owning a total of 618 acres in three different counties

Indiana legislators are considering a bill to ban certain ownership of of farmland by China and other adversaries (stock photo)

The Indiana bill does not ban specific countries, but defers to the US Commerce Department's list of adversaries, which currently includes China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Cuba.

Of those, only China is identified as an owner of farmland in Indiana, with three separate entities owning a total of 618 acres in three different counties, according to WISH-TV. 

As well, the firm Syngenta, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Sinochem Holdings Corporation, leases about 170 acres. 

Those holdings would be grandfathered in and not impacted by the proposed law, which would ban purchases by a foreign adversary after July 1. 

At least 24 other US states have passed similar laws restriction certain forms of foreign land ownership.  

Federal data show that Chinese firms and investors own just over 383,934 acres in the US as of 2021, making it the 18th largest foreign investor.

That's far less than the land owned by the top foreign land owners: Canada, Netherlands, Italy, the UK and Germany.

But China's status as an adversary and rising tensions between Washington and Beijing have heightened concerns over Chinese land ownership.

'This might be the most important bill we have in regards to securing all of the state of Indiana,' said Republican state Sen. Jean Leising, who sits on the Senate's Agriculture Committee

Leising, the bill's sponsor in the Senate, said she would support an amendment that exempted dual citizens of the US and China from the ban

Brian Cavanaugh, who served as a senior adviser on resiliency to the National Security Council during the Trump Administration, testified before Indiana's Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday.

'Many national security experts, including myself, believe China represents the greatest threat to our national security in this generation,' he told the panel.

During the hearing, some legislators raised concerns that the law would ensnare Chinese dissidents who fled the country for a better life in America.

Leising, the bill's sponsor in the Senate, said she would support an amendment that exempted dual citizens of the US and China from the ban. 

At least 24 states, including Montana, Virginia, Alabama and Idaho, have passed legislation restricting the ability of Chinese nationals to buy certain properties.