Upstate County takes hard stance against Chinese investment

Leadership in one Upstate County is fighting to keep investment from foreign adversaries at bay. The Oconee County Council was looking into putting restrictions on how much agricultural land China could buy there.

The County attorney told the Council that generally State Officials handle the regulations of bringing in foreign business and setting limitations on how much land they can obtain.

The Council pivoted from that and decided to not do business with people or companies with ties to China. Councilmen John Elliott and Matt Durham have both been vocal against involvement with foreign adversaries, like China.

Oconee County is seemingly the 1st Council in South Carolina to take a hard line stance against a specific foreign power.