Utah has made a decisive move to block the purchase of land near Provo Airport by Cirrus Aircraft, a company under the majority ownership of the Chinese state-owned defense contractor, AVIC. According to an announcement from Gov. Spencer Cox, this action was taken to ensure national security, falling in line with state laws that prohibit restricted foreign entities, like AVIC, from land ownership in Utah. The company, involved in producing military technology for China's armed forces, is also famously listed on U.S. federal watchlists and is banned from federal contracts due to security concerns.
Cirrus Aircraft's proposal, which promised to bring hundreds of jobs to the area through a multimillion-dollar investment, was quickly shut down after being identified by officials. "This isn’t just about one deal. It’s about protecting strategic land and ensuring foreign adversaries cannot gain a foothold in our state," said Gov. Cox, as per the Utah Governor's Office. He also referred to the recent crackdown on religious worship by the Chinese government, including the closure of Latter-day Saint congregations in Beijing, highlighting Utah's commitment to religious liberty. The governor’s statement, obtained by the Utah Governor's Office, ties the state's historical struggles for religious freedom with the present-day geopolitical concerns.
The original law, passed in 2023 and later strengthened, has been credited to Rep. Candice Pierucci. Her legislation reportedly set a precedent for others to follow, with Utah's policy being hailed as a national best practice by senior U.S. Department of Defense officials. "Utah has led the way in safeguarding our land and military assets. We were one of the first states to ban the Chinese Communist Party from owning land here," Rep. Pierucci highlighted, as noted by the Utah Governor's Office. Utah's stern stance seems to be rippling across the nation as multiple states are now considering similar measures.
