According to a new report by Will Biagini from the Texas Scorecard, China’s expanding influence in Texas has prompted state leaders to take action to protect critical resources and infrastructure.
The Texas GOP’s key legislative priority for the upcoming 89th session is to ban the sale of Texas land to hostile nations, especially China. The report cited data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that Chinese investors own 383,935 acres of land in the United States, with a large portion in Texas.
A poll conducted by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility revealed that 76 percent of respondents support the Texas Legislature’s initiative to ban China from buying Texas land.
Biagi detailed two legislative proposals by State Representative David Spiller (R-Jacksboro). House Bill 191 seeks to ban land sales or leases to nations classified as security risks by the federal government, including China. Additionally, House Bill 243 would authorize the Texas Attorney General to reclaim land already owned by such entities through eminent domain.
“As a practicing attorney of 38 years handling contested real estate litigation, as the owner of the oldest family-owned title company in the State of Texas, and as someone who routinely forms and sets up entities with the Texas Secretary of State’s office and oversees their operation, I feel that I understand the issues and challenges very well,” Spiller stated.
China’s interference is not limited to land ownership; state officials have also raised alarms about its looming threats to Texas infrastructure, including water, energy, and transportation. The state’s electric grid has reportedly been “penetrated” by the CCP, according to another investigative report by the Texas Scorecard.
Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has described China as a primary security concern. “China is not just a competitor; it’s an adversary. Their influence on critical infrastructure poses real risks to American security,” Ratcliffe warned.
The report explained that the CCP is pushing for “green energy” to further increase the U.S.’ reliance on wind and solar energy materials from China. Materials used in wind turbines and solar panels, including computer chips, are often sourced from China, raising fears of the state’s power grid vulnerabilities.
Kyle Bass, a national security expert and member of the Committee on the Present Danger: China emphasized the dangers of this dependency.
“When you think about the components within the windmills or the solar panels, they’re computer chips, right? If someone wants to inhibit the flow, they can actually do it if they know if they can get to those chips. Well, who do you think’s providing those chips for those solar panels? The bad guys.” Bass said.
Governor Greg Abbott has taken proactive steps to counter potential threats from China. In late November, he issued executive orders directing state agencies, including the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utilities Commission, to prepare for possible Chinese attempts to disrupt Texas infrastructure.
“China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure,” he wrote. “Texas will continue to protect our critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of Texans from potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party or any hostile foreign government.”
The measures being discussed in Texas reflect growing national concerns about China’s aggression towards the U.S. As the state prepares for its next legislative session, debates about land ownership, energy security, and infrastructure protections are likely to take center stage.
