After more than a year of debate about whether a Chinese company plans to build a corn mill in North Dakota was an economic boon or a geopolitical risk, an assistant secretary of the Air Force has warned that the project poses a significant threat to national security. The letter from Assistant Secretary Andrew P. Hunter, released by North Dakota senate on Tuesday, said the proposed mill is close to Grand Forks Air Force Base and said the project raised near- and long-term risks of significant impacts to our operations in the area. The debate over Fufeng USA's plan to build a giant milling facility on the edge of Grand Forks, less than 15 miles from the Air Force base, has divided the Republican power structure in North Dakota and shows how quickly the economic relationship between the United States and China has changed.
Residents had voiced concerns, even though the Air Force letter did not name specific threats. Some in town said it was unwise to deepen economic ties with China, while others suggested that the mill could be used for spying on the Air Force, which the company denied.