We know that the United States is a nation where discrimination exists and is hard to root out. We know also that anti-China political forces in the US are so strong that they can mobilize resources at the drop of a hat.

But Florida Governor Ron DeS-antis' signing of a series of bills on Monday to ban Chinese citizens from buying land in that state is the most blatant example of violation of values the US claims to espouse. To demonstrate their determination to contain China, some US politicians do not even hesitate to rip apart their country's last fig leaf of "equality".

The US used to be proud of its openness, a factor that helped it grow and create its unique identity. However, in recent years the country has become increasingly inward looking, setting unnecessary limits on people from countries its politicians dislike.

Banning Chinese people from buying plots in Florida will have little impact as very few Chinese citizens travel to Florida to buy plots there anyway.

But the move will deal a heavy blow to local residents, as it demonstrates that the state's leadership believes in discrimination rather than practicing racial equality, which will in turn cast a shadow on racial unity in Florida and make local Chinese Americans, and even Asian Americans, feel discriminated against.

Organizations such as the United Chinese Americans had tried their level best to stall the bills from passing and being signed into law but failed. Some other organizations have vowed to launch legal procedures against the bills.

The bills violate Chinese and Asians' basic rights in Florida and are also a major challenge to the founding values of the US.