The Epoch Times recently reported that “two Chinese citizens, including one who works at the University of Michigan, were charged on June 2 with visa fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, and smuggling a pathogen into the United States.” Fusarium graminearum, which the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Michigan describes “as a potential agroterrorism weapon,” causes “‘head blight,’ a disease of wheat, barley, maize, and rice … responsible for billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide each year.” The pathogen’s “toxins cause vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive defects in humans and livestock.”
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives,” warns Kash Patel, director of the FBI.
Some methods of this infiltration are especially relevant in Iowa, including foreign ownership of farmland, as well as land near strategic locations, and efforts to steal technology and agricultural seeds. In response, Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Legislature have already begun implementing policies to protect Iowa.
Earlier this year, Gov. Reynolds banned the use of Chinese artificial intelligence platforms and apps such as Deepseek and RedNote from state devices and prohibiting agencies from having accounts. In 2022, she prohibited the use of TikTok on state devices.
During the last session, Reynolds signed legislation strengthening Iowa’s laws on foreign land ownership. Chinese ownership of farmland is a growing concern as the acreage it seeks to purchase climbs and purchases move conspicuously near military bases.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI), who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), describes the potential for drone strikes in the United States: “The war in Ukraine has shown that drones can strike deep behind enemy lines, hitting infrastructure and strategic targets. If Ukraine can do this with limited resources, imagine what China could do with more advanced tech if operating from inside the U.S. Its use of commercial fronts to conduct surveillance is already well-documented.” He warns not only of attacks, but also of spying and the potential for high-tech espionage, such as blocking important communications signals.
Farmland is not the only concern. Food production is just as important to national security as high-tech defense systems. To be sure, this fact provides an explanation for China’s efforts to develop the capacity to produce food for its enormous population, but Iowans must be aware of the risk when China’s actions come at the expense of our own agriculture and Iowa’s economy.
Policymakers in Iowa should do more to address potential foreign threats. As an example, other states are considering divestment of state funds and other investments connected to the CCP.
States are also moving to secure supply chains and other infrastructure. Through “Pacific Conflict Stress Tests,” they are examining the impact on their states if a major war should break out in Asia. The process includes evaluating critical infrastructure such as power systems, water supply, and telecommunications, among others, to ensure they are protected. The ability of state government technology and computer systems to withstand cybersecurity attacks and internal spyware also undergoes scrutiny.
Nebraska has passed a law that “closes longstanding loopholes that allowed foreign adversaries, such as the CCP, to operate cultural and business fronts without registering as foreign agents.” In addition, “lobbyists or consultants working for Chinese military-linked companies must register as foreign agents.”
Other state legislatures are considering legislation to prohibit the use of Chinese technology, especially artificial intelligence. They are also protecting universities by prohibiting funding, recruitment, and other sources of influence China may leverage on American campuses. During its most-recent session, the Iowa Legislature considered a measure to prohibit the licensing of health care facilities directly or indirectly connected to China.
Such policies recognize that China represents a significant national security concern and that the U.S. economy is dangerously dependent on the Asian powerhouse. Since 2001, the United States has lost an estimated 4 million jobs to China, with Iowa accounting for nearly 34,000 of them. Investments from the United States and poor trade policy have resulted in a massive trade deficit and domestic economic harm. In the bargain, the United States has subsidized growth of the Chinese military.
Iowa should continue to advance policies to protect agriculture, food production, and critical infrastructure and work to counter potential foreign threats in other ways. Both Gov. Reynolds and President Donald Trump understand the seriousness of this situation. Voters and elected officials should join them in recognizing the importance of preparedness at the state and national levels.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
