Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Banning China From Purchasing Land In The State

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the Chinese communist regime and state-owned enterprises from acquiring property in Arizona. The bill, known as Senate Bill 1109, was designed to safeguard the state's military, commercial, and agricultural assets from the risks of foreign espionage and sabotage. Governor Hobbs stated that the bill was ineffective at counter-espionage and lacked clear implementation criteria, which could lead to arbitrary enforcement. The bill's sponsor, Arizona Senate Majority leader Janae Shamp, criticized the governor's veto as a politically motivated move that puts the state's future in jeopardy. Shamp warned that China has acquired large tracts of land and property near critical installations in recent years, which could be used to carry out surveillance and gather intelligence on critical assets of the United States. The senator also stated that China could use these properties to position autonomous weapons systems and potentially launch attacks on US military bases in the event of a conflict. Governor Hobbs has vetoed several other bills related to immigration enforcement and school policies, including a bill that would have required state and local governments to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. There are growing concerns about the national security implications of Chinese entities acquiring land close to military bases, with other states such as Georgia taking steps to prohibit such acquisitions. Arizona is home to numerous military installations, including Fort Huachuca and several Air Force bases, making the state's security a top priority. The veto of Senate Bill 1109 has sparked controversy and debate about the state's approach to national security and its relationship with foreign entities, particularly China.