Western Reader
US Air Force authorities are examining a sequence of substantial land acquisitions valued at more than $1 billion. These purchases were made by Flannery Associates LLC, an unknown investment entity.
Flannery Associates bought 52,000 acres of land near Travis Air Force Base, which holds no agricultural value.
Federal officials are investigating the unusual acquisition of the property and expressed concern over possible foreign motives behind such a massive purchase.
The Obscurity of the Investors, Shady Acquisition Have Officials Alarmed at Potential Security Risk
Officials are investigating a large acquisition of land near Travis Air Force Base in Californiahttps://t.co/JN2NDPijWq
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 10, 2023
Travis Air Force Base, located in Solano County, California, is home to approximately 7,600 active-duty USAF personnel, 4,250 Air Force Reserve personnel, and several combat and support aircraft.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Flannery Associates LLC has become the largest landowner in Solano County after purchasing over 52,000 acres of land and 300 parcels near Travis Air Force Base at prices that exceed fair market value.
It took Flannery Associates at least a year to acquire the non-irrigated farmland, and they even sued a group of property owners in California for inflating prices in May 2023.
Flannery Associates Purchased Dry Arid Farmland, Yielding No Profit, with Speculations of China Being the Main Backer
Flannery’s purchases near Travis Air Force Base have sparked federal inquiries. Map from @jackgillum pic.twitter.com/n8RVH0f4Ci
— Kristina L. Peterson (@kristinapet) July 7, 2023
A significant portion of the land being purchased by Flannery Associates LLC is non-irrigated farmland, according to Solano County Supervisor Mitch Mashburn.
Mashburn expressed skepticism about the profitability of such land and raised questions about the justification for a nearly billion-dollar investment.
The USAF’s Foreign Investment Risk Review Office is currently investigating Flannery Associates but has not yet identified the organization’s backers.
Recent land purchases by Chinese investors may provide some insight. The Washington Examiner reported that Chinese ownership of land in the US has increased from 69,295 acres in 2011 to nearly 400,000 acres by the end of 2021.
Major Jeremy Fox highlighted a pattern observed in Chinese subnational espionage campaigns, where commercial economic development projects are used to establish proximity to military installations.
This article appeared in The Record Daily and has been published here with permission.
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