Arkansas’s Secretary of Agriculture, Wes Ward, asked Attorney General Tim Griffin to look into a Fort Smith business with suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).Ward said the department believes “48-11 S Zero Street, LLC” violates state law concerning a foreign party controlled business. Ward 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, approximately 2.3 miles, to Ebbing Air National Guard Base.
In a statement released by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on ‘X,’ she says, “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.”
Governor Sanders was referring to Northrup King Seed Company, who was ordered by the state in October of 2023 to divest from 160 acres of agricultural property in Craighead County.
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