A Chinese billionaire pays $67 million – more than four times the property’s value – for land directly across from critical U.S. defense contractors in Nashua, raising urgent national security alarms.
Key Takeaways
- A 23-acre industrial property in Nashua, New Hampshire was purchased by China’s largest bottled water company for $67 million, despite being appraised at only $15 million
- The property is strategically located across from L3Harris and near other critical U.S. defense contractors, raising significant national security concerns
- The transaction bypassed CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States) review, highlighting regulatory gaps
- This purchase follows a pattern of Chinese entities acquiring land near U.S. military installations across multiple states
- Congressional candidate Lily Tang Williams is demanding an investigation into the suspicious property acquisition
Strategic Property Acquired Without Security Review
A real estate transaction has occurred in Nashua, New Hampshire, where a 23-acre industrial property was sold to a company owned by Chinese billionaire Zhong Shanshan for a staggering $67 million – more than four times its appraised value of $15 million. The property’s new owner operates China’s largest bottled water company, but what makes this transaction particularly alarming is the land’s strategic location directly across from critical U.S. defense contractor L3Harris and in proximity to other defense facilities including BAE Systems. Most troubling, the sale proceeded without review from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
“I just want to increase awareness,” said Lily Tang Williams, a congressional candidate who visited the site to highlight the security implications. “L3Harris, defense contractor, [is] just right here across the street.”
Williams, who has been vocal about the transaction, expressed grave concern about the property’s new ownership and its potential implications for national security. The proximity to defense contractors who work on sensitive military technologies creates an obvious vulnerability that demands immediate attention. This case represents exactly the type of foreign investment near critical infrastructure that should trigger heightened scrutiny, yet somehow proceeded without appropriate oversight.
Part of a Disturbing National Pattern
The Nashua property acquisition is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of Chinese entities purchasing land near military installations throughout the United States. Between 2020 and 2022 alone, Chinese investors conducted 97 land transactions in the U.S., leading all foreign investors. States with significant Chinese-owned land holdings now include Texas, North Carolina, Missouri, Utah, and Virginia – many containing properties suspiciously close to sensitive military facilities. This consistent pattern suggests a coordinated strategy rather than random business investments.
“Chinese entities have long been acquiring farmland near critical U.S. military bases.”
In response to these concerning developments, at least 24 states have considered or enacted legislation since 2023 specifically restricting foreign land ownership, with particular focus on Chinese nationals or entities. These legislative efforts reflect growing awareness of the potential security threats posed by allowing adversarial nations to establish physical presence near critical defense infrastructure. The federal government has also begun taking limited action, with the Treasury Department proposing expanded CFIUS jurisdiction over real estate transactions near military installations.
Calls for Investigation and Action
The substantial price premium paid for the Nashua property – $67 million for land appraised at just $15 million – raises serious questions about the buyer’s true intentions. Such an extraordinary overpayment suggests motives beyond normal business investment. Lily Tang Williams has become a vocal advocate for investigating this transaction, touring the site to highlight its proximity to defense contractors and calling for federal intervention. Her concerns reflect growing awareness among citizens about the potential for foreign espionage and sabotage operations conducted from seemingly innocent commercial properties.
“We get upset when the balloons fly over, but now they’re here, they are in my backyard, in New Hampshire. Please, somebody investigate this,” said Lily Tang Williams, congressional candidate.
President Trump’s administration has recognized these threats, with recent action taken against similar security risks. In one case, the administration issued an executive order to shut down Chinese-controlled MineOne Partners Ltd. near Warren Air Force Base, demonstrating awareness of the security implications of such foreign ownership. The Military Installation Retail Security Act has also been introduced to prevent adversarial nations from operating retail stores on U.S. military bases – addressing another potential vulnerability in our national security infrastructure.
Regulatory Gaps Expose National Vulnerabilities
The Nashua property sale reveals alarming gaps in our regulatory framework for protecting critical infrastructure from foreign acquisition. That a Chinese billionaire could purchase land directly across from defense contractors without triggering security reviews demonstrates the urgent need for reform. The transaction’s approval despite the astronomical price premium further suggests that current systems failed to identify obvious red flags. As Chinese entities continue aggressively acquiring properties near sensitive facilities, strengthening CFIUS authority and imposing stricter limitations on foreign ownership of land near military and defense installations must become national priorities.
The ownership of industrial properties and farmland by entities connected to the Chinese government represents a long-term strategic threat that extends beyond immediate espionage concerns. These holdings provide potential staging grounds for surveillance operations, intelligence gathering, or even sabotage during times of conflict. The systematic nature of these acquisitions, with their focus on proximity to military and defense installations, reveals a deliberate strategy that demands a coordinated national response before more critical infrastructure falls under foreign control.
