image source, Getty Images
- author, joao da silva
- role, business reporter
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US President Joe Biden has ordered a Chinese-owned cryptocurrency miner and its partners to sell land they own near US nuclear missile bases, citing espionage concerns.
MineOne Partners, which the White House says is majority-owned by Chinese nationals, has 120 days to sell the property where it operates a cryptocurrency mining operation.
The land is less than a mile (1.6 km) from an Air Force base in Wyoming where intercontinental ballistic missiles are stored.
BBC News has contacted MineOne Partners and the Chinese Embassy in the United States for comment.
The White House said, “The proximity of foreign-owned property to strategic missile bases and the presence of foreign-sourced specialized equipment that could potentially facilitate surveillance and espionage pose national security risks.” It’s bringing that,” he said. statement.
Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming is home to Minuteman III nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles.
MineOne purchased land near a military base in 2022 and subsequently installed a cryptocurrency mining rig.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a powerful agency that scrutinizes deals that pose national security threats, was not notified of the company’s acquisition, the White House said.
Authorities were notified of the transaction following a tip-off from a member of the public.
An interagency committee led by the U.S. Treasury Department determined that the purchase had national security implications.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement that President Biden’s decision to force Mine One to sell the land “underscores the critical gatekeeping role that CFIUS plays in ensuring that foreign investment does not undermine our national security.” said.
Concerns are growing among U.S. lawmakers about China’s purchase of real estate near sensitive military facilities.
The latest announcement from the White House came just a day before the Biden administration is scheduled to significantly increase tariffs on several Chinese imports, including electric vehicles.
