China’s state-run shipbuilding company has repurposed bulk carriers into floating farms, managing to produce around 2,800 tonnes of fish each year. This initiative aims to enhance the country’s food security by transforming older ships into aquaculture facilities. Prime Minister Xi Jinping, along with various state entities, is pushing this initiative, which might raise eyebrows beyond China’s borders due to its potential military implications.
This isn’t Xi’s only venture. Two years ago, his administration initiated a program to clear forests in order to expand farmland. This represents a significant shift from earlier policies that had aimed to convert farmland back into forests at considerable expense.
Additionally, there are other efforts underway. A rural management force has been involved in removing cash crops—like tobacco and ginger—and even converting city parks that were established at a cost of over $4 billion into farms. In many urban areas, lawns are now growing wheat and corn, while in other locales, officials are cutting down fruit trees to create fish ponds.
There’s a noticeable trend of encouraging urban populations to return to agriculture, reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution, where university graduates are being sent back to the land.
Xi seems to take inspiration from Mao Zedong, who urged farmers to cultivate grain in every possible location. Moreover, the government is intensifying its focus on crop storage, recently raising its agricultural stockpile budget by 6.1% to reach $18.1 billion for grain and edible oil.
But there’s more to the food security initiative. Recent accusations have emerged against three Chinese citizens who allegedly tried to smuggle biological agents into the U.S. One of these individuals was apprehended for attempting to bring in a plant pathogen known to cause significant economic damage to crops like wheat and barley.
Concerns about the intentions behind this smuggling are heightened by the relationship between these researchers and the Chinese military. As some experts point out, it raises questions about whether these genetically modified organisms were designed to be more infectious or resistant to pesticides.
This year, incidents of smuggling pathogens could just be the latest in China’s ongoing attempts to undermine American agriculture. Since at least 2020, there have been numerous reports of unsolicited seeds arriving from China in the U.S., suggesting a strategic approach to gaining a foothold in agricultural sabotage.
All these efforts highlight Beijing’s commitment to food security amid a backdrop of a long-term trade war with the U.S. There’s a growing sense that Xi is preparing not just for economic challenges but also for potential military conflicts. In his push for “absolute self-sufficiency” in food by 2024, it’s clear that he intends to secure provisions for 1.4 billion people, especially in the face of expected sanctions.
Despite China’s high rankings in self-sufficiency, the reality is more complicated. The nation remains the world’s largest food importer, bringing in vast quantities of grains and soybeans, relying heavily on foreign supplies. Even with Xi’s attempts, it seems unlikely that China will achieve true food independence, as factors like contaminated soil hinder agricultural production.
As experts suggest, the ability to feed its population is a crucial element for any major power. Xi’s understanding of these vulnerabilities points to a broader acknowledgment that neither China nor America can overly rely on self-sufficiency for food production.
