Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSandis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, on Monday signed into law a series of laws aimed at “countering the influence” of China, notably barring many Chinese from buying real estate in his state.

“We don’t want the Chinese Communist Party” in Florida, the Republican governor blasted during a news conference, accusing America’s “elites” of “ignoring this problem for far too long.”

Mr. DeSandis, who was elected governor of Florida in 2018, has turned the spotlight on his state because he has transformed it into a laboratory of conservative ideas.

The measures he approved yesterday allow Florida to counter threats, “economic, strategic and security” from Beijing, said the Republican, who could not rule out – at any time – entering the arena to claim his party’s anointing to be his candidate in the upcoming presidential election.

One of the laws he signed into law yesterday prohibits any person permanently settled in China without US permanent resident status from buying real estate in his home state.

It also restricts purchases of plots of land or land near military installations to citizens of Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria, which are designated “at-risk” countries.

On Monday, Ron DeSandis further tightened the ban on the TikTok platform on the phones of public officials in his state and banned Florida universities from doing business with Chinese institutions.

These measures are criticized by the Democrats – the opposition in the state – who denounce a policy of discrimination.

Other US states are also currently considering the possibility of imposing restrictions on the purchase of real estate by foreigners.