China’s Ladakh move Xi JinPing attempt towards a looming food crisis

President Xi Jinping launched ‘Operation Clean Plate’ to prepare China for a potential food crisis aroused due to the diplomatic muscle flexing pursued abroad to bolster his standing at home. However, Beijing’s aggressive manoeuvres in Ladakh, the South China Sea seen to prompt by a design to divert attention from domestic troubles come as cratered relations with its neighbours and soured relations with its important food suppliers the United States, Canada and Australia.

Xi JinPing turn food crisis of China with its Save Food Campaign

China’s ultra-nationalistic wolf warrior diplomacy and aggressive military posture by PLA in Ladakh is a throwback to 1962, when it used the border skirmish with India to mask the failed Great Leap Forward movement that killed millions of Chinese of hunger. Xi Jinping’s focus on crash diet last month immediately set off speculation that he may expects its food supply to get worse.

Back in May, Premier Li Keqiang promised to draw up a food security plan amid the coronavirus pandemic, assuring that China could ensure food for its people ‘through our own efforts’, reward higher yield of grains and promote the pig production. Agriculture minister Han Changfu had added that the African swine fever that led to kill 100 million pigs was a big threat increase in price of pork, a staple food for world’s biggest consumer.

However, Official statistics indicate food prices went up by 13% in July compared with a year ago and the price of pork by about 85 per cent. The Qingyi River an upper Yangtze tributary saw its worst flood in a century. Already, according to data from the China General Administration of Customs, China’s grain imports had risen by 22.7 per cent (to 74.51 million tonnes) in between January and July as compared to the same period last year.

India China Clash in Ladakh a provoked conspiracy to divert attention of  food crisis in China

Wheat and Corn imports saw a 197% and 23% increase year-on-year with 910,000 tonnes and 880,000 tonnes. China’s state media denied any shortage of food instead claimed to have a record high of 142.8 million Ton this year “There is no need to worry”. According to news agency AFP, that China’s “food shortfall” will increase in coming years unless major agricultural reforms are undertaken.

China’s state media has linked Xi Jinping’s campaign to the global food crisis predicted by the United Nations, a warning that was repeated by the world body two months back when it asked governments to act swiftly to avoid disaster.