Senate Republicans introduce crucial legislation to block Chinese land purchases near military bases after alarming security gaps allowed a CCP-linked company to nearly acquire property next to sensitive U.S. defense installations.
Key Takeaways
- The “Protect Our Bases Act,” introduced by Senate Banking Committee Republicans led by Tim Scott, empowers CFIUS to review foreign land purchases near critical military sites
- The legislation was prompted by a 2022 incident where the Chinese Fufeng Group attempted to purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base, exposing dangerous gaps in U.S. security protocols
- The bill requires all CFIUS member agencies to annually update lists of sensitive military, intelligence, and national laboratory sites to ensure timely security assessments
- Republican senators are pushing the measure to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s increasing efforts to infiltrate and surveil U.S. national security facilities
Closing Security Gaps in Foreign Land Purchases
In a decisive move to protect America’s military installations from foreign espionage, Senate Republicans have introduced the “Protect Our Bases Act” aimed at strengthening oversight of land purchases near sensitive U.S. military sites. The legislation, spearheaded by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and co-sponsored by several Republican senators including Katie Britt of Alabama, directly addresses critical vulnerabilities in our national security protocols. Currently, foreign entities, particularly those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, can exploit loopholes to acquire land dangerously close to crucial military facilities, potentially enabling surveillance and intelligence gathering operations against American interests.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to infiltrate and surveil all parts of the U.S national security apparatus requires vigilance from our national security agencies,” said Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC).
The bill specifically strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency panel responsible for reviewing national security implications of foreign investments. Under the proposed legislation, CFIUS would have expanded authority to review and potentially block land purchases by foreign entities near military bases, intelligence centers, and national laboratories. This represents a significant improvement over the current system, which failed to prevent a Chinese company from nearly acquiring land adjacent to a sensitive U.S. Air Force base—a scenario that could have created serious security vulnerabilities for critical defense infrastructure.
Chinese Threat Prompted Legislative Action
The legislation stems directly from a 2022 incident that raised serious alarm bells throughout the national security community. The Fufeng Group, a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, attempted to purchase land near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota. Astonishingly, CFIUS was unable to properly assess the security risks because the base had not been officially designated as a sensitive site by the Department of Defense. This dangerous gap in America’s security protocols was only addressed when the City of Grand Forks eventually blocked the purchase, not through federal intervention.
“As the threat of our foreign adversaries grows, especially from the Chinese Communist Party, it’s paramount that we secure our intelligence,” said Senator Britt.
The incident exposed a critical flaw in America’s national security apparatus—CFIUS lacked timely information about which military installations were considered sensitive by the Department of Defense and other security agencies. Without this information, the committee could not properly evaluate foreign land purchases that might pose espionage or surveillance risks. The Protect Our Bases Act directly addresses this deficiency by mandating that CFIUS member agencies annually update and review lists of critical sites, ensuring that no sensitive military installation falls through the cracks of America’s security protocols.
Comprehensive Security Approach
The Republican-led initiative goes beyond merely extending CFIUS’s review capabilities. It establishes a systematic approach to monitoring and protecting America’s critical defense infrastructure from foreign infiltration. Under the proposed legislation, CFIUS member agencies would be required to maintain updated records of all sites essential to national security and submit annual reports to Congress. This system would create a more proactive defense posture, enabling security officials to identify potential vulnerabilities before foreign adversaries can exploit them.
“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,” said Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC).
Senator Britt has consistently championed similar measures to counter foreign threats to American sovereignty, including the Not One More Inch or Acre Act, the Foreign Adversary Risk Management Act, and the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security Act. These initiatives reflect growing concerns among conservative lawmakers about China’s systematic efforts to gain strategic footholds within American territory. The Protect Our Bases Act represents the latest effort in a broader strategy to shield America’s vital national security interests from infiltration by hostile foreign powers like China, which have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to exploit any vulnerability in America’s defensive posture.
