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While the swamp in Washington attempted to add a bunch of anti-American legislation in a TikTok ban, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is taking action against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Florida.
The Republican governor, who is rumored to be gearing up for a run in the GOP presidential primary, signed three bills aimed at blocking CCP influence.
DeSantis understands the threat coming from the People’s Republic of China. Experts warn about China’s desire to spread its influence culturally, economically, politically, and militarily by whatever means necessary.
“Florida is taking action to stand against the United States’ greatest geopolitical threat —the Chinese Communist Party,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
“I’m proud to sign this legislation to stop the purchase of our farmland and land near our military bases and critical infrastructure by Chinese agents, to stop sensitive digital data from being stored in China, and to stop CCP influence in our education system from grade school to grad school. We are following through on our commitment to crack down on Communist China.”
According to The Blaze, the three bills the governor signed “include SB 264, Interests of Foreign Countries; SB 846, Agreements of Educational Entities with Foreign Entities, and SB 258, Prohibited Applications on Government-issued Devices.”
SB 264 “restricts conveyances of agricultural lands and other interests in real property to foreign principals.”
Chinese citizens with “non-tourist visas” will be allowed to purchase single parcels of land under two acres, located at least five miles away from military installations.
“Food security is national security, and we have a responsibility to ensure Floridians have access to a safe, affordable, and abundant food supply,” said Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson in a statement.
“China and other hostile foreign nations control hundreds of thousands of acres of critical agricultural lands in the U.S., leaving our food supply and our national security interests at risk.
“Restricting China and other hostile foreign nations from controlling Florida’s agricultural land and lands near critical infrastructure facilities protects our state, provides long-term stability, and preserves our economic freedom,” Commissioner Simpson added.
SB 846 prohibits state colleges and universities and their employees from accepting gifts or grants from any “foreign country of concern.”
It also bars private schools owned or controlled by those countries from participating in the state’s scholarship programs.
SB 258 requires government and educational institutions to block access to prohibited apps that present a cybersecurity risk, including TikTok. It also requires public employers to retain the ability to remotely wipe and uninstall the apps.
Governor DeSantis wants to convey a message to the CCP that it is not welcome in Florida.
DeSantis blames the “elites in our own country” for the rise of the CCP and its influence around the world. He said they allowed it to happen as they favored “short-term profits” over national security.
China is not the only country of concern the legislation attempts to target. Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela also made the list.
The Florida legislature passed the measures during the legislative session that came to a close last Friday.
The legislation will take effect July 1.
