Missouri governor bans Chinese and Russian companies from buying land near military sites

By SUMMER BALLENTINE
Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chinese and Russian companies no longer can purchase land near Missouri’s military sites. Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday issued an executive order banning new land purchases by companies from countries that are considered foreign adversaries. Along with China and Russia, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and anyone from Cuba, Iran or North Korea now cannot buy land within 10 miles of a military site in Missouri. Parson’s order is in response to decadeslong national security concerns about foreign ownership of U.S. farms and other land. Efforts to limit foreign land ownership gained traction after a Chinese spy balloon flew over the U.S. last year.