China’s acquisition of farmland near critical U.S. military bases has sparked significant national security concerns, with fears of potential espionage or sabotage growing.

The issue has come to light as Chinese companies have been found buying land close to 19 military installations across the nation, from Florida to Hawaii, the New York Post reports.

The locations include several strategic bases such as Fort Liberty in North Carolina, Fort Cavazos in Texas, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

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Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert S. Spalding III voiced his concerns to The Post, saying, “It is alarming we do not have laws on the books that would prevent the Chinese from buying property in the U.S.”

The proximity of these land purchases to key military sites raises the possibility of Chinese landowners establishing surveillance operations under the pretense of farming.

Potential activities could include setting up reconnaissance posts, installing tracking devices, using radar and infrared technology to monitor military activities, or even deploying drones to gather intelligence.

This issue is not just theoretical.

A Wall Street Journal report from September 2023 revealed that Chinese intruders have attempted to breach U.S. military facilities over 100 times in recent years. Incidents include unauthorized entries onto a missile range in New Mexico and scuba divers being spotted near a government rocket launch site in Florida.

The FBI has labeled the Chinese government’s actions as a “grave threat,” with Director Christopher Wray warning in April that Chinese hackers have infiltrated U.S. critical infrastructure, poised to cause significant damage at a moment’s notice.

He noted that these threats have the potential to “physically wreak havoc” on American soil.