As U.S.-China relations cool amid trade disputes and espionage fears stoked by the Chinese spy balloon shot down off the Atlantic Coast, lawmakers in Congress and at least 11 statehouses are weighing legislation to further limit foreign ownership of farmland.
"The bottom line is we don’t want folks from China owning our farmland. It goes against food security and it goes against national security,” Tester told The AP.
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Near the banks of Montana s Musselshell River, cattle rancher Michael Miller saw a large, white orb above the town of Harlowton last week, a day before U.S. officials revealed they were tracking a suspected Chinese spy balloon over the state. World News | US, States Weigh Farmland Restrictions After Chinese Balloon.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, is sponsoring legislation to include agriculture as a factor in national security decisions allowing foreign real estate investments.
Some states are considering a ban on foreign buys of U.S. farmland due in part to the Chinese balloon event. They see it as a security move and economic issue.