State legislators are beginning to ban Chinese ownership of land near installations, according to a Washington Post analysis.

“Lawmakers in 33 states have introduced 81 bills this year that would prohibit the Chinese government, some China-based businesses and many Chinese citizens from buying agricultural land or property near military bases,” the report said. Some states have enacted the policies.

But there’s concern among some Asian Americans that such actions can further an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

“President Trump calling COVID-19 the ‘China virus’ and ‘kung flu’ laid the groundwork for people to blame China for their own misfortunes,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), who is Chinese American and has introduced a bill to combat the landownership restrictions. “Now we see this anti-China fever taking a different route, with politicians trying to gain political points by being more anti-China than the next person.”

Wikimedia Commons photo