Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that the state has successfully blocked a Chinese state-owned company from purchasing land near Provo Airport. The acquisition of the land could pose a national security threat.
According to “Utah News Flash” reported on Wednesday (July 16), the Chinese company in question is called Cirrus Aircraft, which is controlled by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) and has close ties to the Chinese military.
On Tuesday (July 15), Governor Cox and several lawmakers held a press conference near an old barn in the Palmyra small agricultural community in a hot field.
Governor Cox praised the state legislature for using legal means to prevent “foreign adversaries” from entering Utah.
He emphasized at the press conference, “We will not allow hostile foreign entities to purchase strategic land in Utah. This company controlled by the Chinese government will no longer own 35,000 acres (about 142 square kilometers) of land in this state.”
Cox pointed out that Cirrus’ parent company AVIC is on a United States federal government blacklist for manufacturing military aircraft and drones, which prohibits it from obtaining federal contracts.
Tanner Jensen from the State Public Security Department stated that land near the airport could be of economic and strategic significance to China, as airports are critical infrastructure that must be protected against foreign threats through land acquisitions.
In another report from “News Weekly” on Wednesday, China’s largest beverage company “Nongfu Spring” acquired a 23-acre property in Nashua, New Hampshire for $67 million, intending to bottle and sell water.
However, according to the “Keene Sentinel” report, concerns have been raised by local residents and politicians because the property purchased at four times its value by this Chinese company is close to the water supply system, adjacent to the airport and defense facilities.
New Hampshire Senator Regina Birdsell has proposed banning foreign entities like the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing local land.
Lily Tang Williams, running for Congress, also warned that China is expanding its influence through commercial acquisitions.
In response, Nashua City has issued a statement stating that any plans involving water resources by Nongfu Spring will undergo rigorous review. Discussions surrounding the acquisition are still ongoing.
– News Flash Production Team