SAN ANTONIO — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton focused on affordability, rural health care, and Chinese Communist Party influence in Texas during a press conference Tuesday.
Paxton spoke at VFW Post 4676, near Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, about what he described as efforts to prevent Chinese government influence and ownership in the state.
He pointed to a Chinese billionaire’s purchase of more than 100,000 acres in a county near Laughlin Air Force Base, where the U.S. Air Force trains pilots. Paxton said the purchase raised national security concerns.
Paxton praised Senate Bill 17, a 2025 law that restricts certain foreign ownership of Texas land. He said the law prevents the Chinese government from purchasing farmland, commercial property, minerals and water rights in the state.
He also highlighted lawsuits and investigations his office has pursued involving Chinese-linked companies, including technology, drone and security camera companies.
Paxton said his “Protecting the Texas Promise Agenda” would focus on lowering costs for Texans, including housing and health care expenses, while reducing taxes. He also addressed rural hospital closures, saying some Texans face lengthy drives for emergency medical care.
During his remarks, Paxton criticized Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico over votes against Senate Bill 17 and Senate Bill 667, which addressed state investments in companies controlled by the Chinese government.