Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently announced a series of legislative measures to strengthen Arkansas’ defense against infiltration and influence by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The Communist China Defense legislative package contains six bills that seek to target areas the CCP might use to infiltrate the US, such as through business, land acquisition and technology. By further tightening legal regulations, the bills would ensure that Arkansas’ security and economy are free from CCP influence.
This move aligns with a growing trend among US states in recent years to strengthen their own defenses against Chinese influence — in particular, reviews of key industries and land ownership, as well as collaboration with academic institutions, have become more stringent.
Some states have banned Chinese citizens or companies from purchasing agricultural land to prevent the CCP from using agricultural resources to gain control over the US food supply chain.
Many state governments have also increased scrutiny of tech companies with ties to China to prevent data leaks or cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
The Arkansas legislation would not only directly counter CCP infiltration attempts, but also symbolizes that US states are adopting measures to protect their own interests independent of federal action. It also highlights that the CCP’s long-standing strategy of expanding its influence through economic and technological means has triggered increased vigilance and the implementation of countermeasures within the US.
It is worth watching to see whether Arkansas’ new legislation package becomes a model for other states to follow.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
China has not been a top-tier issue for much of the second Trump administration. Instead, Trump has focused considerable energy on Ukraine, Israel, Iran, and defending America’s borders. At home, Trump has been busy passing an overhaul to America’s tax system, deporting unlawful immigrants, and targeting his political enemies. More recently, he has been consumed by the fallout of a political scandal involving his past relationship with a disgraced sex offender. When the administration has focused on China, there has not been a consistent throughline in its approach or its public statements. This lack of overarching narrative likely reflects a combination
Behind the gloating, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) must be letting out a big sigh of relief. Its powerful party machine saved the day, but it took that much effort just to survive a challenge mounted by a humble group of active citizens, and in areas where the KMT is historically strong. On the other hand, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) must now realize how toxic a brand it has become to many voters. The campaigners’ amateurism is what made them feel valid and authentic, but when the DPP belatedly inserted itself into the campaign, it did more harm than good. The
For nearly eight decades, Taiwan has provided a home for, and shielded and nurtured, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). After losing the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the KMT fled to Taiwan, bringing with it hundreds of thousands of soldiers, along with people who would go on to become public servants and educators. The party settled and prospered in Taiwan, and it developed and governed the nation. Taiwan gave the party a second chance. It was Taiwanese who rebuilt order from the ruins of war, through their own sweat and tears. It was Taiwanese who joined forces with democratic activists
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) held a news conference to celebrate his party’s success in surviving Saturday’s mass recall vote, shortly after the final results were confirmed. While the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) would have much preferred a different result, it was not a defeat for the DPP in the same sense that it was a victory for the KMT: Only KMT legislators were facing recalls. That alone should have given Chu cause to reflect, acknowledge any fault, or perhaps even consider apologizing to his party and the nation. However, based on his speech, Chu showed
RSS