The recent arrests of Chinese nationals at the University of Michigan have reignited alarm over CCP-owned farmland and property in the United States, especially in Michigan, and drawn new comparisons to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

Earlier this month, two Chinese nationals were charged with allegedly smuggling a “dangerous biological pathogen” into the U.S. to study at the University of Michigan. FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident a “sobering reminder that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate our institutions and target our food supply, an act that could cripple our economy and endanger American lives,” Fox News reported.

Soon after, a third Chinese national with ties to the university was arrested, renewing concerns about CCP efforts to infiltrate U.S. sectors, particularly agriculture.

A 2023 USDA report revealed that “foreign persons held an interest in nearly 45 million acres of U.S. agricultural land,” about 3.5 percent of privately held farmland. While China is not the top holder, these arrests have sparked fresh calls in Congress to ensure the CCP is blocked from buying U.S. farmland.

“China has been aggressively buying American agriculture, which is why we need to have a heightened sense of vigilance around protecting our homeland,” Sen. Pete Ricketts told Fox News Digital. Ricketts and Sen. John Fetterman introduced a bipartisan bill to tighten oversight of foreign farmland purchases.

“China’s land purchases aren’t just about acreage — they’re about access,” said Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP. “Even small parcels near military bases or critical infrastructure pose serious national security risks.”

In Michigan, GOP state Rep. Gina Johnsen has already introduced legislation to block foreign adversaries from buying farmland. “Our farms provide food security, jobs, and economic stability,” Johnsen said. “However, there is growing concern about losing our farmland to countries of concern.”

The issue has also gained attention as reports of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program exposed how foreign adversaries can infiltrate a nation. The Israeli mission, codenamed “Am Kelavi” (Rising Lion), involved Mossad operatives establishing a drone base inside Iran.

Former CIA officer Bryan Cunningham warned U.S. leaders to take note. “It does serve as a wake-up call, hopefully for our policymakers,” Cunningham said, adding it should be linked with “the Trump administration’s border strategy.”

“Our borders are where you’re most likely to actually intercept these kinds of toxins, explosives, flares, 3D-printed weapons,” he said.

Meanwhile, the FBI is ramping up surveillance of Iranian-backed operatives inside the U.S. as President Trump weighs possible strikes, a senior law enforcement official told Fox News on Friday.