Recent major land acquisitions in New Hampshire by Chinese companies and investors have sparked a wave of concern among local politicians, according to Newsweek. Three significant purchases have been reported: Chinese beverage giant Nongfu Spring has acquired land near Nashua’s Pennichuck water system; Chinese investor Sui Liu has bought a former aviation school campus, and the private Jiahui Education Group has purchased the defunct Chester College of New England.
The acquisitions have raised eyebrows due to their proximity to significant military and defense sites. New Hampshire state Senator Kevin Avard, R-Nashua, expressed concerns about the Chinese purchasing land near these sensitive locations, citing the potential security risks. All three land purchases are within 20 miles of BAE Systems Electronic Systems, a major defense contractor, and the New Boston Space Force Station.
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Lily Tang Williams, a Chinese native and Republican congressional hopeful, suggested to Newsweek that these acquisitions are part of China’s global expansion strategy, with ambitions to become the world’s dominant power by 2049.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for China’s embassy, dismissed these concerns, emphasizing the mutual benefits of China-U.S. economic ties and underscoring Chinese companies’ contributions to U.S. jobs and economic growth.
The New Hampshire Senate has passed a bill restricting property sales around certain military installations to ‘foreign principals from countries of concern,’ including China. Senator Avard, who supported the legislation, reiterated his concerns about selling land to adversaries of the United States.
This raises important questions about the balance between economic opportunity and national security, and the role of foreign investment in local economies. As always, the public’s right to information is paramount, and we will continue to follow this story as it develops.