US Air Force Orders Halt Of Chinese Mill Project After National Security Threat

A Chinese Communist Party backed company has come under fire by the federal government for their plans to open a ‘corn mill’ less then 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The US Air Force said the project would have been a ‘significant national security threat’.

The company, Fufeng Group, spent $2.3 million to purchase 300 acres of land and planned on another $700 million to open the mill.

Republican Mayor Brandon Bochenski of Grand Forks, North Dakota, announced he planned to stop the construction of the property after a year long debate.

Corporate boards and government agencies could learn a thing or two from Grand Forks Mayor Brandon Bochenski.https://t.co/IFfju92ybF

— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) February 1, 2023

He stated Tuesday:

“The federal government has requested the city’s help in stopping the project as [geopolitical] tensions have greatly increased since the initial announcement of the project.

The only remedies the city has to meet this directive is to refuse to connect industrial infrastructure and deny building permits. As mayor of the city of Grand Forks, I am requesting these remedies be undertaken and the project be stopped, pending City Council approval.”

Closely following these attempted investments by Chinese companies.

In an increasingly dangerous world, it’s critical that we do everything we can to protect our national security. https://t.co/vtCsoLpaz5

— Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) February 1, 2023

North Dakota senators shared a letter they received from Air Force Assistant Secretary Andrew Hunter where the military gave an official warning against the Fufeng project.

Today @SenKevinCramer and I released the following statement after the U.S. Air Force made very clear in their letter to us that the Fufeng project represents a national security risk due to proximity to the Grand Forks Air Force Base…

— Senator John Hoeven (@SenJohnHoeven) January 31, 2023

Hunter pointed to the proposed corn mill’s proximity to Grand Forks Air Force Base as a major risk.

He wrote:

“Grand Forks Air Force Base is the center of military activities related to both air and space operations. While [the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States] concluded that it did not have jurisdiction, the Department’s view is unambiguous: the proposed project presents a significant threat to national security with both near- and long-term risks of significant impacts to our operations in the area.”

🚨A Chinese-based company is developing a Chinese-owned corn mill near a U.S. Air Force base.

My bill – the PASS Act – would require this acquisition to be reviewed ahead of time to prevent this grave national security risk.https://t.co/p4nkD4DbMY

— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) February 1, 2023

Thankfully Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) have introduced the PASS act which stands for Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security.

“The act will protect our national security by preventing foreign adversaries from taking any ownership or control of the United States’ agriculture industry.”

According to a press release last July.

It continued:

“As a response to reports of China threatening America’s food supply by acquiring U.S. farmland and agriculture companies, this bill will ensure the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is fully involved in reviewing our foreign adversaries’ acquisition of American companies that may affect our agriculture sector.”

Let’s hope this is passed and keeps dangerous foreign investors off our soil.