LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Arkansas’s Secretary of Agriculture is asking Attorney General Tim Griffin to investigate a Fort Smith business with suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Secretary Wes Ward says the department believes “48-11 S Zero Street, LLC” violates state law concerning a foreign-party controlled business due to ties with the CCP.
He cites Act 636 that was passed last year, which does not allow Arkansas agricultural land to be owned by prohibited foreign parties.
Ward also alleges that the business is a national security risk due to its close proximity to Ebbing Air National Guard Base. 4811 South Zero St. is 2.3 miles from the base.
This is not the first business suspected of having strong ties to China. In October of last year, the state ordered Northrup King Seed Company to divest from 160 acres of agricultural property in Craighead County.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following statement on X:
“Communist China is America’s greatest adversary. I won’t let them buy up land close to our military installations and spy on our nation’s defense assets. I kicked out a CCP state-owned company once and will do it again to protect Arkansas’ Ebbing Air National Guard Base.”
