DeSantis, who is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election from the Republican Party, has signed a series of bills against certain activities of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that he says “constitute a threat to espionage and national security,” according to the Florida Governor’s statement.
In this context, DeSantis passed a bill that prohibits Chinese and CCP affiliates from purchasing farmland in Florida unless they are US citizens or permanent residents.
Claiming that the Chinese want to buy farmland in the USA, DeSantis said, “Food security is national security.”
DeSantis underlined that they restrict the transfer of agricultural lands to foreigners.
The bill also prevents the Chinese from purchasing a certain size of land from areas close to American military facilities in Florida. Citizens of Russia, Cuba, Iran, Syria and Venezuela are also prohibited from buying property near military bases.
The bill to ban the use of TikTok in government and educational institutions has been approved
DeSantis also signed a bill that prohibits universities and schools from accepting grants from a foreign educational institution without the approval of the state board of education. Thus, it is aimed to prevent the influence of Chinese organizations in provincial educational institutions.
DeSantis, who evaluated that Florida took action against “the CCP, which poses the greatest geopolitical threat” to the USA with these steps, approved the bill that bans the use of TikTok in government and educational institutions.
DeSantis stated that China has taken these steps to stop Americans from obtaining sensitive digital data.
Many Chinese-Americans protested these decisions of the state administration on the grounds that it could cause discrimination against them.