US lawmakers propose new legislation to address national security risks of Chinese-owned businesses in US military bases.

Recently, United States Congressman Pat Harrigan proposed a new bill that would prohibit any Chinese, North Korean, Iranian, or Russian companies from operating businesses on U.S. military bases.

This week, Republican Congressman Harrigan officially introduced the “2025 Military Facilities Retail Security Act,” which aims to prevent foreign adversaries from conducting retail operations on U.S. military facilities.

According to reports from Fox News Channel (FNC), while most lawmakers are focused on banning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from purchasing land near U.S. military bases, Harrigan pointed out that the CCP has already established a presence directly on U.S. military facilities through the nutrition chain store GNC.

Harrigan warned that GNC could potentially collect health data from U.S. troops and launch cyber intrusions. “This is essentially the CCP operating within our military bases,” Harrigan told Fox, emphasizing that this is even more concerning than land purchases.

In June 2020, the U.S.-based vitamin retailer GNC Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was fully acquired by a Chinese state-owned enterprise, Harbin Pharmaceutical Group. Prior to that, Harbin Pharmaceutical Group had acquired 40% of the company in 2018.

In 2019, GNC agreed to production integration with International Vitamin Corporation (IVC) comprised of Chinese investors.

GNC had been operating on U.S. military bases for many years before being sold to a Chinese company. The potential for this company to assist the CCP in monitoring military bases has been overlooked.

Currently, GNC operates approximately 85 chain stores on U.S. military bases. These stores operate under so-called “long-term franchise” contracts, meaning everything from operations, personnel, to supplies are controlled by GNC.

Congressman Harrigan pointed out that GNC is a very mature target for foreign adversaries to collect intelligence.

He stated: “This is not a joke but a defense of the dignity of our military, ensuring that foreign adversaries actively seeking to undermine us do not have the opportunity to infiltrate our military bases.”

He added: “As their customer, you know who these people are, what their buying habits are. Based on the type of products they purchase, you can obtain sensitive health information.”

Harrigan mentioned that stores can identify vulnerabilities by tracking individuals who frequently purchase testosterone, sleep aids, or anti-anxiety medications. Furthermore, they can monitor deployment cycles of troops based on changes in buying patterns.

He also warned that enemies could introduce prohibited or harmful substances – or counterfeit products – through GNC’s security clearances to undermine military readiness.

Harrigan pointed out that the wireless networks (WiFi) and mobile data tracking within the chain stores could potentially expose the geographical locations of military personnel, thus posing a significant network risk. Loyalty applications and promotions could be used to embed malicious links or software.

However, a spokesperson for GNC argued that their systems are independently monitored and undergo multiple audits throughout the year.

Previously, lawmakers had introduced dozens of bills aimed at preventing the CCP from purchasing American land near sensitive military bases.

The urgency of these bills increased after the Chinese food producer FuFeng Group acquired 370 acres of land near an Air Force base in North Dakota in 2022.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as of last year, China owned approximately 350,000 acres of farmland across 27 states.

In 2023 and 2024, GNC registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) – the federal government’s contract management system. Despite not being required to do so due to their long-term franchise contracts.

GNC did not disclose on the SAM website that it is actually a Chinese-owned enterprise, and its registration expired in October 2024.

As early as 2020, when he was a Senator, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had issued warnings regarding GNC’s sale to Harbin Pharmaceutical Group. He cautioned that customers’ personal data could be transferred to the CCP. He urged the Treasury Department at that time to conduct a national security review.

Despite numerous concerns, Judge Karen Owens approved the $770 million deal.

Following the acquisition, GNC rapidly expanded its business in the U.S. and globally by capitalizing on people’s pursuit of health and wellness trends.