LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the new Communist China Defense legislative package, which will work to divest state resources from China and ban companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party from buying land around critical infrastructure such as military bases or electric substations.
The legislation’s lead sponsors are Senator Blake Johnson (District 21), Representative DeAnn Vaught (District 87), Representative Britt McKenzie (District 7), Representative Mindy McAlindon (District 10), and Representative Howard M. Beaty, Jr., (District 95).
Governor Sanders’ office says the package will expand prohibitions on Chinese Communist Party-linked companies’ property ownership. In particular, the legislation will precent this companies from owning or leasing property near critical infrastructure. Additionally, it will shorten the amount of time a banned company has to divest.
“President Trump is the first president in my lifetime to take a hard line against Communist China and we are proud to support that work in Arkansas by getting Communist China off our land and out of our state,” said Governor Sanders. “Once I sign this legislation into law, Chinese Communist Party-linked companies’ will be banned from owning property near critical infrastructure and lobbying on behalf of Communist China, Russia, and other foreign adversaries will no longer be allowed in the state of Arkansas. My administration is putting America and Arkansas first.”
The legislation will also keep municipalities from having a sister city in China.
“Over the past two terms, the State of Arkansas has curbed the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) within our borders, signaling a unified and bold stance against foreign interference. From banning Chinese military drones, to prohibiting land ownership, and now instituting severe penalties and outlawing foreign influence peddling; These restrictions aim to protect Arkansas’s economic and security interests by limiting CCP-backed entities, full stop. I’d like to thank Governor Sarah Sanders for her partnership with the Legislature as these initiatives reflect Arkansas’s commitment to safeguarding our sovereignty and ensuring the well-being of our citizens,” said Rep. Britt McKenzie.
Under the new rules, Arkansas would be able to withholding funding from colleges and universities that have “a Confucius Institute or similar institute related to the People’s Republic of China, including Chinese cultural centers, and prohibit state-sponsored colleges and universities and entities from investing in Communist China.”
State agencies would also be barred from spending public funds to purchase promotional items made in China.