Obama blocks Chinese wind farms in Oregon over security

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Barack Obama blocked on Friday a privately owned Chinese company from building wind turbines close to a Navy military site in Oregon due to national security concerns, and the company said it would challenge the action in court.

The rare presidential order to divest interests in the wind farms comes as Obama campaigns for a second term against Republican Mitt Romney, who has accused him of being soft on China.

Ralls, which had been installing wind turbine generators made in China by Sany Group, has four wind farm projects that are within or in the vicinity of restricted air space at a naval weapons systems training facility, according to the Obama administration.

"There is credible evidence that leads me to believe" that Ralls, Sany Group and the two Sany Group executives who own Ralls "might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States (US)," Mr Obama said in issuing his decision.