The Biden administration has taken action to prevent a Chinese cryptocurrency mining company, MineOne Partners, from owning land near a nuclear missile base in Wyoming, citing concerns over national security risks. This move comes as part of the administration's efforts to safeguard sensitive locations and protect against potential espionage activities.

MineOne Partners, which is backed by Chinese nationals, currently operates within a mile of F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. The administration has deemed this proximity to be a "national security risk." The Treasury Department has expressed concerns about the company's specialized and foreign-sourced equipment, which could potentially be used for surveillance and espionage activities. However, specific details regarding the risks were not provided by the department.

It was discovered that MineOne had purchased the land in 2022, but failed to report the purchase under proper protocols. It was a public tip that ultimately alerted authorities to the potentially questionable motives behind the choice of location.

This action by the Biden administration comes in the wake of increasing instances of foreigners being caught recording American military bases. According to the Daily Mail, Chinese nationals attempted to enter U.S. military sites over 100 times last year, often disguising themselves as tourists or food delivery drivers. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. John Teichert has highlighted that this surveillance tactic from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not a new phenomenon and that they employ various means to actively gather intelligence on U.S. security practices.

DoorDash, the popular food delivery platform, also responded to the reports, stating that they take any allegations of platform misuse very seriously and find them deeply concerning. Meanwhile, MineOne has been given a 90-day timeline to remove any structures and equipment from the site and 120 days to sell the property.

Teichert has raised concerns that if bad actors have already gathered information, it may be too late to mitigate the potential risks. He emphasized that the CCP has been implementing their surveillance strategy for decades and stressed the need for vigilance and diligence in countering these activities.

In related news, the U.S. Justice Department and TikTok have requested a federal appeals court to expedite a ruling on the new law requiring China-based company ByteDance to divest TikTok's U.S. assets by January 19 or face a ban. This move signals the continuing efforts by the U.S. government to address national security concerns associated with Chinese-owned tech companies.

As national security remains a top priority for the Biden administration, actions like these aim to safeguard sensitive locations and protect against potential threats posed by foreign entities.