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When espionage fails, China uses its economic power. Through legal acquisitions, Chinese companies—many state-owned—now control $47.7 billion in American agricultural assets, including 26% of US pork production.
Acquisition offers advantages that espionage cannot:
Ownership means control of operations, strategy, and future development—not just one-time theft.
Buy the company, keep the employees. Acquired companies come with trained workforces and institutional knowledge.
Processing plants, distribution networks, and supply chains take decades to build. Buying is faster.
Acquired assets are protected by US law. Stolen IP can be recovered; purchased assets cannot.
These deals were approved by CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) despite congressional concerns and public objections.
Acquired by WH Group (Shuanghui)
America's largest pork producer—26% of US pork production—is now 100% Chinese-owned.
Key Concerns:
Acquired by ChemChina (Sinochem)
World's leading crop protection company, #3 global seed producer, now owned by Chinese state enterprise.
Key Concerns:
America's Largest Pork Producer
In 2013, Shuanghui International (now WH Group), a Chinese meat processing company, acquired Smithfield Foods for $4.72 billion—at the time, the largest Chinese acquisition of a US company.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved the deal despite concerns raised about:
The Food Security Question
Critics ask: If a food crisis comes to China, where will the pork flow? Smithfield claims all products are for US consumption, but ultimate control rests with WH Group in Hong Kong.
World's Leading Crop Protection Company
In 2017, ChemChina (China National Chemical Corporation) completed its $43 billion acquisition of Syngenta—the largest foreign acquisition in Chinese history. ChemChina is now part of Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
"The food and agriculture sectors are part of the nation's critical infrastructure, and this merger raises questions about national security because of the need to ensure a safe food supply."
— Senator Chuck Grassley
"There is shared sentiment among lawmakers, military officials, and everyday Americans that protecting the safety and resiliency of our food system is core to American national security."
— Senators Stabenow, Ernst, and Brown (joint letter)
Current Status
Syngenta continues to operate in the US market, selling pesticides and seeds to American farmers, now under the ownership of Sinochem—a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
Chinese companies have purchased land near 19 US military installations, raising significant national security concerns.
Top States by Acreage:
In November 2021, Fufeng Group (Chinese food manufacturer) purchased 370 acres approximately 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.
Air Force Response (January 2024)
The Air Force sent letters to senators stating the project would be "a significant threat to national security."
Outcome: February 6, 2024—Grand Forks City Council rejected the development plan.
According to security analysts, farmland near military bases could potentially be used by foreign agents to:
When China can't buy, they steal. The Mo Hailong corn seed conspiracy.
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Learn More →The full picture of Chinese economic warfare against American agriculture.
View Briefing →Take our security audit to understand your exposure to Chinese-owned agricultural suppliers and get recommendations for diversifying your supply chain.