Utah Forces Chinese Company to Divest Land

State leaders say it's the first time a company with ties to the Chinese Communist Party has been forced to sell land in Utah.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that the state has forced a Chinese company with links to the Chinese Communist Party to divest land in Tooele County. The company, Mitime, had purchased the former Miller Sports Park racetrack, but state leaders say the sale was mishandled and the land could have been sold for millions more. This is the first time Utah has taken such action against a company with Chinese ties.

Why it matters

The move highlights growing concerns among U.S. state and federal leaders about Chinese companies, especially those with ties to the Chinese government, purchasing land and assets in the United States. Utah has enacted laws to prevent such transactions, viewing them as potential national security risks.

The details

In 2019, a Utah legislative auditor's report found that Tooele County "mishandled" the sale of the former Miller Sports Park racetrack to Mitime, a company with links to the Chinese Communist Party. The report said the county did not use an appraiser to establish fair market value and could have sold the property for millions more. State leaders did not reveal the full details of the divestiture, including the terms of the sale.

  • In 2019, a Utah legislative auditor's report criticized the sale of the former Miller Sports Park racetrack to Mitime.
  • Several months ago, the state of Utah forced Mitime to divest the land.

The players

Spencer Cox

The Governor of Utah who announced the forced divestiture of the land by the Chinese company.

Mitime

A Chinese company with links to the Chinese Communist Party that was forced to divest land in Utah.

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What they’re saying

“We have adversaries that are targeting our country and targeting the state of Utah as well.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah (KUTV)

What’s next

State leaders did not provide details on whether Mitime will appeal the forced divestiture or if the state plans to take further action against other Chinese companies with land holdings in Utah.

The takeaway

Utah's move to force a Chinese company with Communist Party ties to divest land highlights growing concerns among U.S. states about foreign, especially Chinese, ownership of domestic assets and the potential national security risks involved.