Texas’ land commissioner says her office has caught a Chinese company attempting to use the “facade” of being an Australian company to secure a big mineral land lease, as the state escalates its efforts to break China’s monopoly on rare earth minerals.
“We’re about to bust their monopoly, and just like they do everywhere, they’re trying to hurt the companies that are doing the best things for America,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told the Just the News, No Noise show Wednesday.
The Texas General Land Office, which Buckingham leads, manages 13 million acres of state-owned mineral rights and leases them to companies for oil, gas, and rare earth extraction.
Buckingham pointed out in June of last year that Texas banned foreign nationals from “hostile” nations from owning property in the state. Prior to that legislation, Buckingham noted, she spearheaded the purchase of 354,000 acres of land “because the Chinese were about to buy it, and we didn’t want them acquiring one more piece of Texas land.”
This comes amid escalating global tensions over strategic resources. In June, Beijing retaliated against U.S. tech sanctions by placing 10 American industrial suppliers on its export control list, which included rare earth miners such as MP Materials, which operates a major manufacturing facility in Texas, as well as drone manufacturers.
“Right now, China controls 99% of that market, but Texas does have what we believe to be the largest and richest deposit of rare earth minerals outside of China’s control,” Buckingham said.
According to data from the International Energy Agency’s 2026 report, China accounts for 60% of the global mined production of magnet rare earths and 91% of the global refined output.
However, Buckingham remains optimistic, saying stakeholders in Texas are “hopeful” the state is only two years away from processing its own rare earth magnets in a complete “mine-to-magnet” supply chain.
“China is definitely playing chess,” Buckingham warned, and said that her agency worked alongside the Texas secretary of state to bust a Chinese firm covertly operating under the ‘facade’ of being an Australian company. “We’re just being sure that China doesn’t gain any monopoly, and it’s all Texas grown,” Buckingham said.
Buckingham contrasted how quickly rare earth projects could operate under the Trump administration compared to the former Biden administration, which she said was like wading up a continual stream of wet concrete.”
She also said that as a state, Texas moved “at the pace of private industry” because it paired “good government” with reasonable regulations.
Buckingham further touted how Texas’ booming economy was drawing about 2,000 new residents a day.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas added 391,243 residents in 2025, an average of 1,072 a day. Buckingham said this wave of new residents was a testament to the “Texas Miracle,” but warned residents looking to shift the state’s politics and “California our Texas.”
“They’re welcome to stay as long as they behave,” she said jokingly. “I think that’s the secret to the Texas miracle [is] you have good government, and you have reasonable regulations, and then you move on and get the job done.”
“We’re excited, drill baby drill, let’s get this energy independence, manufacturing independence, we’re calling it: elemental independence with our rare earth minerals, and it’s time to just go and be able to rely and stand on our own two feet,” Buckingham said.
Christina Park is a reporter for Just The News.
Reposted with permission from Just The News by Christina Park.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Foreign ownership of anything in the U.S. is a direct threat to national security and should be forbidden by national legislative action. Where the hell is Congress when issues of such dire interest arise? Foreign agents, some as naturalized citizens, comb all the backwoods and byways looking for opportunities to acquire critical assets, supplies and raw materials for the benefits of their mother countries. Citizens should be outraged that Congressional members fail to address the situation permanently.
Natural resources should be required to stay under the control of our nation and should never be allowed to be sold to potential foreign enemies or others who are hostile to our nation. I’m glad Texas has sensible leaders. Keep the trash out of Texas government.
Praying all the NEWBEES in Texas vote RED! Keep our state Republican!!!
No country, friend or, especially, foe, should own or even lease land anywhere in America. Our resources are ours and should not be sold to any other country. We should be using American companies who employ American citizens to extract those resources to benefit America. Those resources could become hard to find or even extinct in the future. Of course, we can sell to other countries (friends/allies only) who are in desperate need. But that should be the exception, not the rule. Definitely America first, but not necessarily America only.
All I see is left screeching for ban this ban that but not once did they whisper ban the chinese ownership on everything and anything in this country, send them back, revoke all the visa , do as they do, keep them out. No good ever came out of letting them in to spy and copy.
Get it done, Texas…!
Thank you Texas! President Trump needs to let the chips fall where they fall, take our country and land away from China and the CCP! Kick them out completely! That is what they deserve after stealing our technology, interfering in our elections and our democracy! China doesn’t want a war anymore than the USA, do not show them any fear like the Democratic Party and their allies have done! Who knows what Biden son sold them and I’m sure Biden did too to save his no good son!
Whether enemies – potential or real – or not, no foreign nation, citizen, or company be allowed to purchase US land, period. That definitely includes any mineral rights. Even if a buyer is from a “friendly” nation, it should not be allowed.
ONLY IF someone becomes a US citizen, and not dual citizen, would they be allowed to purchase a home, land, and/or mineral rights.
Thanks TX awesome
Texas and Florida…home of American, freedom loving patriots. ????????❤️
Why would any foreign company own mineral rights in the US? That makes no sense.
Love the good work and being a good watchman for Texas!
Bravo, Texas!
Every government level has to play hardball with the CCP. They are shrewd, devious, disingenuous, liars, and must have power at any cost. They practice unrestricted warfare, militarily and commercially.
On another somewhat related subject, I am highly concerned about their intentions when they land their astronauts on the moon. Will it be a South China Sea all over? Will they say, “We landed a rover on the moon 5 years ago, and where it sits, all of that land belongs to China.” There has to be some rules among countries about territorial rights. The US want to establish a base at the South Pole, where there is continuous sunlight, and shadowed craters containing accessible ice. This new space world is going to present some interesting legal issues.
Since October, MP Materials stock has gone from 97.79 down to 52.21. 5 yrs ago it was 37 per share. I think I’ll play some Texas Hold ‘m.
Stay as long as they behave , right, what next will you let happen ?
Awesome Way to go Texas!????????????
Do your research , find out how much the Chicoms own of the United States it might surprise you .