Republican Senator Bernie Moreno has formally urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to initiate a comprehensive national security review of a proposed real estate transaction involving SolarSpace Technology Co., Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of photovoltaic cells and modules, over its proximity to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The letter, sent on Friday, 1 August, requests that Bessent, in his role as Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), examine the deal before it proceeds.

The Transaction Under Scrutiny

According to Moreno, the referral originates from a 22 June submission by the Dayton Development Coalition concerning a pending real estate deal involving SolarSpace. The Chinese firm is reportedly seeking to lease or purchase a facility at 2555 Woodman Drive, Kettering, Ohio, which Moreno states is approximately 13 miles from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

SolarSpace Technology manufactures photovoltaic cells and modules — a sector in which Chinese firms have expanded aggressively in global markets, drawing increasing scrutiny from US lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Why Wright-Patterson Raises Alarms

Moreno described Wright-Patterson as 'a critical military installation with a workforce of approximately 38,000 employees, including military personnel, civilians, and contractors.' He further characterised the base as 'a cornerstone of U.S. air and space superiority, serving as a central hub for aerospace research, engineering, and intelligence, including the Air Force Research Laboratory.'

'Yet, one of our greatest foes is attempting to move in nearly next door,' Moreno wrote in the letter addressed to Bessent.

The CFIUS Angle and National Security Concerns

CFIUS is the interagency body responsible for reviewing foreign investments in the United States for potential national security risks. Moreno's letter argues that Chinese commercial entities have previously been leveraged to advance Beijing's broader strategic and intelligence objectives, making the proposed transaction a candidate for immediate CFIUS scrutiny.

'At a time when the Chinese Communist Party has leveraged American commercial entities to advance its military and intelligence objectives, we cannot let this potential transaction proceed without investigation,' Moreno wrote. He also urged the administration to prevent 'potential shell companies for the Chinese Communist Party' from acquiring land or facilities near sensitive military sites.

Broader Context: Foreign Land Ownership Under the Microscope

The SolarSpace case sits within a broader legislative and executive push to tighten oversight of foreign land purchases near US military installations. Federal lawmakers from both parties have backed stronger controls in recent years, citing risks of espionage, intelligence collection, and threats to critical infrastructure — particularly from entities linked to China.

Notably, Moreno also referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling in his letter, framing it in the context of broader concerns about Chinese interests operating within the United States, though the direct legal connection to the SolarSpace transaction was not elaborated upon in the correspondence.

With CFIUS now formally in focus, the outcome of this review could set a precedent for how the US handles Chinese commercial real estate activity near strategically sensitive sites going forward.