In 2022, the Fufeng Group, a Chinese company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, tried to exploit a flaw in the federal government’s review process of foreign land purchases to buy land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) found that it could not evaluate the transaction – which was ultimately blocked by the City of Grand Forks – for national security risks because the Defense Department had not listed the base as a sensitive site for national security purposes.
On Wednesday, Senate Banking Committee Republicans introduced the “Protect Our Bases Act,” which is intended to fix the security oversight to ensure the Chinese cannot acquire land near sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the US national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies,” Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., said in a statement.
“This legislation will enhance the review of foreign real estate transactions near critical national security installations, helping ensure CFIUS has the information it needs to protect our homeland and keep our nation safe,” he added.
According to the text, the bill requires that CFIUS member agencies annually update their records on the facilities that should be flagged for national security purposes and submit annual reports to Congress.
It’s being co-sponsored by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., John Kennedy, R-La., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., Jim Banks, R-Ind., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
“We must protect sensitive military and government sites from foreign adversaries pursuing intelligence activities on our own land,” Crapo said in a statement. “Idaho has multiple military installations and the acclaimed Idaho National laboratory conducting vital research, development and training of critical national security efforts right here in our back yard, and increasing accountability about land sales around these sites is of utmost importance.”
Earlier this month, Ukraine launched Operation Spiderweb, a surprise attack on Kremlin airbases and aircraft deep within Russian territory, which reportedly involved approximately 117 drones.
The stunning success of that operation – which has been described as Russia’s Pearl Harbor – highlighted the potential vulnerabilities of military bases to drone strikes. China is widely considered the world leader in drone production.
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