Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Barring Chinese Communist Party Land Purchases Near U.S. Military Bases
by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – In a decision with broad national implications, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that would have banned the Chinese government and its affiliates from purchasing land in the state–particularly near U.S. military installations. The move has ignited fierce criticism from Republicans and national security advocates who argue the veto undermines U.S. defense readiness and emboldens America’s top geopolitical rival.
Senate Bill 1109, sponsored by Arizona Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp (R-Surprise), aimed to prevent the People’s Republic of China from acquiring land near sensitive assets like Luke Air Force Base, a premier F-35 pilot training facility, and the Palo Verde nuclear plant. The bill was part of a growing national effort, as at least 22 states have enacted laws restricting foreign ownership of strategic U.S. land, with China’s land purchases raising the greatest alarm.
Governor Hobbs, a Democrat, defended her veto by calling the bill “ineffective at counter-espionage” and warning that it “lacks clear implementation criteria,” potentially inviting arbitrary enforcement. But critics contend the veto sends a dangerous message at a time when Chinese-linked property acquisitions near U.S. military sites are under heavy federal scrutiny.
“Governor Hobbs just hung a ‘Welcome CCP’ sign on Arizona’s front lawn,” said Michael Lucci, CEO of the national security watchdog group State Armor Action. “Allowing Communist China to buy land next to our critical infrastructure is a threat to American sovereignty. Her veto is not just bad policy–it’s a strategic blunder.”
Lawmakers pointed to a recent attempt by Chinese interests to lease land adjacent to Luke Air Force Base as evidence of the bill’s urgency. Shamp said the veto was “utterly insane” and accused Hobbs of “prioritizing politics over national security.”
While the federal government–through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)–has authority to block foreign land purchases near military bases, supporters of SB 1109 said the bill would have added a critical layer of state protection to close federal loopholes.
Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), who amended the bill to narrowly target Chinese government entities and clarify its legal scope, dismissed Hobbs’ rationale. “The language was precise. If the PRC is on the title, the land is forfeited. It’s not vague–it’s enforceable.”
Under the bill, Arizona’s attorney general would have been empowered to sue for forfeiture of property in violation, with proceeds distributed after clearing liens and enforcement costs.
Opponents, including Democrats in the state legislature, argued the bill unfairly singled out Chinese nationals and could invite racial profiling. “May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month,” said Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson), “and instead of honoring diversity, this bill uses national security as a smokescreen for exclusion.”
But Shamp pushed back: “This bill doesn’t target Chinese Americans. It targets the Chinese Communist Party, which has a documented history of espionage near U.S. military sites. This is about protecting our nation–not politics.”
Across the country, Chinese ownership of U.S. land has become a flashpoint in statehouses and Congress alike. In 2022, a proposed Chinese land purchase near a North Dakota Air Force base was blocked after a national outcry. President Donald Trump recently ordered further federal restrictions on Chinese investments near sensitive facilities.
With 27 states currently reviewing similar bills and Congress weighing multiple federal measures, Arizona’s veto stands out–and may become a defining moment in the broader battle over how the United States confronts the CCP’s expanding influence on American soil.
Whether the Arizona legislature will attempt to override Hobbs’ veto remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the fight over who controls America’s land–and what that means for national security–is far from over.
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