China’s Farmland Ownership Map Contains Significant Inaccuracies

Chinese Farmland Ownership in Australia Vastly Exaggerated on Social Media

A misleading map circulating on social media drastically overstates Chinese ownership of Australian farmland, according to an investigation by AAP FactCheck.

The viral image, which depicts large portions of Australia’s interior colored in red, appears in a Facebook video featuring podcaster Joe Rogan in conversation with Australian expedition leader Adam Cropp. The post’s caption ominously claims: “China doesn’t need to invade us, they already own a huge chunk of our farm land.”

However, official data reveals a much different reality. According to the most recent federal government register of foreign ownership of agricultural land, Chinese investors hold just 2.1 percent of Australia’s agricultural land as of June 2023. This translates to approximately 7.6 million hectares, with 6.8 million of those being leasehold rather than freehold property.

The figure represents roughly 1 percent of Australia’s total landmass—a stark contrast to the viral map, which exaggerates Chinese land ownership by at least tenfold.

The misleading content appears to be selectively edited. While the Facebook video shows the map alongside Cropp’s statement that “we’ve sold huge farms – these massive, massive farms in the centre of Australia – to China over the last five years or so,” the original 2016 podcast did not include this visual representation. Cropp did reference a map showing Chinese ownership with “a lot of Australia” colored red, but the specific map being shared now has been previously debunked by fact-checkers.

The federal government’s foreign ownership register, which classifies entities with at least 20 percent foreign ownership as “foreign persons,” provides a comprehensive breakdown of international investment in Australian agricultural land. Chinese investors do lead foreign ownership at 2.1 percent, but British investors follow closely behind at 2.0 percent, putting the Chinese position in proper perspective.

The circulation of such misleading information comes at a sensitive time for Australia’s foreign investment landscape. The government recently announced reforms to streamline the foreign investment review process, aiming to attract more capital from friendly nations while increasing scrutiny on investments deemed higher-risk.

Agricultural land ownership has long been a contentious issue in Australia, with public concerns about food security and sovereignty frequently arising in political discourse. The viral map appears designed to inflame these concerns by vastly overstating the extent of Chinese ownership.

Fact-checkers have been unable to determine the map’s original source, though similar versions have been circulating online since at least 2016. Its continued spread demonstrates how misleading visual information can persist in social media environments despite being repeatedly debunked.

The discrepancy between the map and reality underscores the importance of consulting official data sources when evaluating claims about foreign ownership of Australian assets. While foreign investment in agricultural land remains a legitimate subject for public debate, discussion should be grounded in accurate information rather than misleading representations.

For context, Australia’s agricultural sector has historically relied on foreign investment to support growth and innovation. The government’s recent policy adjustments aim to balance the economic benefits of such investment with national security considerations, particularly as geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region have increased in recent years.

As social media continues to serve as a primary information source for many Australians, the spread of such misleading content highlights the ongoing challenges of information literacy and the crucial role of fact-checking organizations in correcting the record.