Chinese-Linked Groups Oppose US National Security Measures
Groups with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are actively mobilizing activists to oppose state-level national security bills aimed at restricting property ownership by foreign adversaries near U.S. military installations. The United Chinese Americans (UCA), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, has been at the forefront of these efforts, organizing protests and packing legislative hearings in Ohio and Iowa.
In Ohio, UCA affiliates crowded a March 17 House hearing to oppose H.B. 1, a bill that would prohibit citizens of 'foreign adversary' nations, including China, from acquiring property within 10 miles of military bases and critical infrastructure. Activists reportedly confronted proponents of the bill in the capitol hallway, peppering them with questions. Similar efforts were observed in Iowa, where UCA staged a protest against H.F. 2513, which seeks to ban state universities from hiring H-1B visa holders from foreign adversary nations.
'CCP-linked individuals shouldn’t own property near sensitive infrastructure in Ohio or any other state,' said Jacqueline Deal, a State Armor advisory board member who testified in favor of H.B. 1.
The UCA has denied any formal relationship with the Chinese government, but multiple reports indicate that several of its board members have served in Chinese government roles or promoted initiatives tied to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), a Chinese influence and intelligence arm. The U.S. China Economic and Security Commission has previously highlighted the UFWD's role in undermining American power.
Ohio State representatives Angela King and Roy Klopfenstein introduced H.B. 1 in January 2025, citing national security concerns. The bill has advanced through multiple hearings in the Republican-majority House and is nearing a potential vote. Ohio hosts several critical military installations, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Defense Supply Center Columbus.
The ongoing lobbying efforts raise questions about foreign interference in U.S. domestic policy and the prioritization of national security over foreign interests in state legislatures.