Is this a problem? Communist China buying farmland in the United States?

[Gaer]

Is this a waste of energy thinking about this?

Almost 200,000 acres of U.S. land, mostly farmland, has been bought up by the Chinese Communist Party.
Some right outside of the Laughlin Air Force base in Texas.
I think this could be a national security issue and a food supply issue in the future.
From what I understand, there are no restrictions to prevent foreign countries to buying up land in America.

Do you think I'm making too much of this? You see, I think we will one day go to war with Communist China.

 

[Disgustedman]

Bill gates has 242 thousand acres. If china wants to grow food. Instead of wiping out the fish of the sea, I'd rather that. It's still going to cost to ship it home.

 

[Nemo2]

I presume the land can be nationalized in a heartbeat?

Personally I don't like the idea, either down there or up here.

 

[Gaer]

I presume the land can be nationalized in a heartbeat?

Personally I don't like the idea, either down there or up here.

Oh, O.K. Thanks.

 

[CarolfromTX]

Yes. It’s a big problem. Suppose China decides the crops grown on that land can only go to China. It’s downright scary.

 

[oldaunt]

They also own Smithfield Pork.....

 

[Nemo2]

Yes. It’s a big problem. Suppose China decides the crops grown on that land can only go to China. It’s downright scary.

Therein lies the beauty of bureaucratic red tape.

 

[oldaunt]

Bill gates has 242 thousand acres. If china wants to grow food. Instead of wiping out the fish of the sea, I'd rather that. It's still going to cost to ship it home.

Gates "leased" it all back to the farmers that owned it. His thought is to keep that land from being turned into "not farmland". I applaud his wise investment into our future food supply.

 

[Jules]

From things I’ve read, the farmers in California have priority water rights, which started for valid reasons. Much of this land is owned by the Chinese. Whoever controls the water and food can control everything. They certainly have buying power. BTW, don’t take any of this as facts, because I’m not an expert, nor maybe not even the people who wrote those articles.

 

[Alligatorob]

Is this a problem? Communist China buying farmland in the United States?

I don't think so, we have almost 900,000,000 acres of farmland in the US. The Chinese Communist Party owning about 0.02 % of it doesn't worry me.

We are a free country with free enterprise, anyone can buy land and anyone can sell to anyone they want. I sure would not want to see that change.

 

[Nathan]

Is this a problem? Communist China buying farmland in the United States?

So China buys farmland in the U.S., that means they pay money for it to U.S. owners. China can't take the land back to China, land stays here, money paid for it stays here. It's a win-win.

 

[chic]

I wouldn't worry excessively about this and I don't believe the U.S. will go to war with China unless you know something I don't because they need the revenue from all the sales they make from electronics etc. that U.S. consumers rely upon since we don't manufacture much in this country anymore. It appears to be a codependent relationship.

 

[Nemo2]

So China buys farmland in the U.S., that means they pay money for it to U.S. owners. China can't take the land back to China, land stays here, money paid for it stays here. It's a win-win.

Although, (and here's my paranoia showing), suppose if they were gearing up for war, unbeknownst to the US, the land, (cough cough), 'inexplicably' became contaminated and unusable.

 

[Alligatorob]

From things I’ve read, the farmers in California have priority water rights

In the western states water rights are separate from the land. However most farmland is sold along with the water rights. In Utah I own just 3 acres of farmland and 10 acre-feet of water right (about 3.2 million gallons/yr), I could sell the water rights without the land, if I wanted to. I get letters from people asking me to sell them all the time.

Tried to find numbers on Chinese water right ownership in the US, but I could not.

 

[Harry Le Hermit]

We have a large trade deficit with China. China cannot take the dollars back to China, but can invest in U.S. treasuries, property, etc. They also use those dollars to spread influence around the world. When you read of some project China is funding in some distant land, it is quite possibly using U.S. dollars, as a result of the trade deficit.

 

[ElCastor]

I wouldn't worry excessively about this and I don't believe the U.S. will go to war with China unless you know something I don't because they need the revenue from all the sales they make from electronics etc. that U.S. consumers rely upon since we don't manufacture much in this country anymore. It appears to be a codependent relationship.

Taiwan, one of the world’s most prolific producers of highly
advanced computer chips, is claimed by China and the subject of frequent threats. The current US position is if Taiwan is invaded we would “defend” - whatever that means.

 

[Gaer]

Yes. It’s a big problem. Suppose China decides the crops grown on that land can only go to China. It’s downright scary.

About the land outside the Air base, what could China do with that land, in the event of war?

 

[chic]

Taiwan, one of the world’s most prolific producers of highly
advanced computer chips, is claimed by China and the subject of frequent threats. The current US position is if Taiwan is invaded we would “defend” - whatever that means.

Sabre rattling? I still don't see the U.S. in an all out war with China. I could be wrong, but I don't.

 

[Gaer]

Sabre rattling? I still don't see the U.S. in an all out war with China. I could be wrong, but I don't.

I do.

It might not be in our lifetime but Russia and China will merge to war with the US. China will emerge as the economic leader of the world.

I'm glad you don't see this because thought from the human mind can change future events. Every thought produces an influence in the atmosphere. I hope you are right and I am wrong.

 

[Alligatorob]

About the land outside the Air base, what could China do with that land, in the event of war?

I am sure it would be either seized or something done to prevent its misuse. All Chinese assets would likely be frozen.

However I agree with @chic war with China seems pretty unlikely.

 

[Gaer]

I am sure it would be either seized or something done to prevent its misuse. All Chinese assets would likely be frozen.

However I agree with @chic war with China seems pretty unlikely.

We'll see.

 

[Alligatorob]

We'll see.

Yep, I said the same thing about a Russian invasion of Ukraine being unlikely. This time I hope I am right.

 

[Disgustedman]

I do.

It might not be in our lifetime but Russia and China will merge to war with the US. China will emerge as the economic leader of the world.

I don't see it really. Going to be hard to be a leading power with 85% of people dead, 90% of land contaminated by radiation.

But, there's something else to consider.

Safest Countries – Countries that Survive Nuclear war

• 1- Iceland. Iceland is a North Atlantic island nation. ...
• 2- Canada. Canada is a top nuclear war survivor. ...
• 3- Australia. Australia is a leading nuclear war safety contender. ...
• 4- Newzealand. ...
• 5- Norway. ...
• 6- Sweden. ...
• 7- Greenland (Denmark) ...
• 8- Fiji.
• 9. Nepal
• 10. Sri Lanka

So, who wants to move?

 

[Murrmurr]

I am sure it would be either seized or something done to prevent its misuse. All Chinese assets would likely be frozen.

However I agree with @chic war with China seems pretty unlikely.

We'll see.

It's far more likely the CCP will break down before a war between China and the US ever happens.

 

[caroln]

I don't see it really. Going to be hard to be a leading power with 85% of people dead, 90% of land contaminated by radiation.

But, there's something else to consider.

Safest Countries – Countries that Survive Nuclear war

• 1- Iceland. Iceland is a North Atlantic island nation. ...
• 2- Canada. Canada is a top nuclear war survivor. ...
• 3- Australia. Australia is a leading nuclear war safety contender. ...
• 4- Newzealand. ...
• 5- Norway. ...
• 6- Sweden. ...
• 7- Greenland (Denmark) ...
• 8- Fiji.
• 9. Nepal
• 10. Sri Lanka

So, who wants to move?

I have dibs on Fiji.