The plan to confront China and kick out companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party from the U.S.

The Line Against Beijing is Drawn in Little Rock

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is making a bold stance against China’s infiltration into her state. She recently announced new legislation aimed at further restricting the operations of Chinese state-owned businesses in Arkansas. This move comes after Arkansas became the first state in the nation to force a Chinese-connected company to divest farmland.

“We are taking a strong stand against China infiltrating our state,” Sanders said. “We’re going to continue to push back and protect our critical infrastructure.”

The new measures introduced by Sanders include banning CCP-linked companies from buying or leasing property, blocking ownership near critical infrastructure sites, scrapping Sister City partnerships, and cutting funding for universities and colleges with Chinese-funded programs.

“Agriculture is the number one industry here in the state of Arkansas, and so protecting our agricultural security is crucial,” Sanders emphasized.

The state’s actions were prompted by the case of Syngenta Seeds, a company with ties to a Chinese conglomerate. In 2023, Arkansas ordered the company to divest farmland used for seed production after it failed to disclose its foreign ownership by the deadline. The state fined Syngenta $280,000 for its lack of transparency.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Miller warned, “This serves as a warning to all other Chinese state-owned companies operating in Arkansas.”

Sanders is leading the charge against Chinese influence in her state, with at least 22 other states enacting similar restrictions on Chinese-owned companies. Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the CCP, commended Sanders for her efforts and urged other states to follow suit.

Experts have long warned about the national security threat posed by China’s entry into the U.S. through businesses and organizations. Michael Pillsbury, a Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, emphasized the importance of federal involvement in addressing these threats.

“The state of Arkansas doesn’t have the resources to combat the CCP on its own,” Pillsbury said. “We need federal agencies like Homeland Security and the FBI to step in and address these issues at a national level.”

Rep. Moolenaar highlighted the challenges of identifying Chinese-owned companies and their ties to the CCP, as well as the risks posed by Chinese-funded educational programs. He cited a recent case in Michigan where Chinese students were caught spying at a military facility.

Sanders’ actions are aimed at protecting American interests and preventing the CCP from exploiting relationships for nefarious purposes. The Chinese embassy in Washington has accused the U.S. of politicizing economic and trade issues, but critics argue that it is the CCP that is weaponizing commerce and friendship.

“We need to be proactive and vigilant,” Rep. Moolenaar cautioned. “We must protect American universities and taxpayer dollars from Chinese infiltration and espionage.”

Sanders’ efforts in Arkansas are a crucial step in safeguarding against Chinese influence and ensuring the security of American interests. The state’s actions send a clear message that they will not tolerate CCP interference and will continue to push back against any attempts to undermine their sovereignty.