Klopfenstein's concerns about China

VAN WERT — This week’s Commissioner’s Corner radio broadcast featured 82nd District State Representative Roy Klopfenstein of Paulding.

The program, recorded on Thursday at WERT radio’s studio was scheduled to air beginning at 8:25 a.m. on Sunday, October 1. Chris Roberts and Van Wert County Commissioners Stan Owens and Thad Lichtensteiger were the hosts of the weekly program.

Klopfenstein took time to discuss several important issues facing Ohioans including a bill he’s co-sponsored called HB 212 or the Ohio Property Protection Act.

“We’re getting close to going to hearings on it. Basically, it’s looking at who owns property and who buys property. Should we be allowing foreign adversaries to buy our property? And the foreign adversaries as defined by our federal government are China, Cuba, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and the Venezuelan dictator,” Klopfenstein said.

In particular, Klopfenstein is concerned about China.

“They have been buying some things. I think the Dakota case that got a lot of publicity where they were buying several hundred acres, close to an Air Force Base, where the drones are technology and Dakota got that stopped. That company then went to the Carolinas. Carolina said ‘not happening here’. They’re now trying to buy property in Ohio,” Klopfenstein said.

He’s concerned about what could happen if foreign adversaries keep buying property in Ohio.

“There’s like 18 other states that have now put restrictions on the books and say ‘Hey, if you’re not our friend, we’re not sure we want you here but when you look at development, and this (Chinese) company down in the Dayton area, they bought an old car plant and they’re employing lots of people. It’s good for the community. But I don’t know: are the communists our friends?” Klopfenstein asked.

Klopfenstein recognizes the threat China is in the world.

“China is already notorious for stealing copyrights for the film industry. They’re the pioneers of pirating that, and they’re making most of our Apple phones, and several other apps. There’s real concern about what they’re tracking on the average citizen. We just talked to an Iowa legislator and they have a pipeline that they’re trying to figure out who really owns it. It was five layers deep. It’s China. It’s the Chinese Communist Party and personally, I don’t think it’s a good idea that the Chinese own our infrastructure,” Klopfenstein said.