In Geopolitics Today - Friday, November 26th
China’s Search for Food Security and China, India & Russia Agree to Improve Multilateral Cooperation
China’s Search for Food Security
Since the time of Deng Xiaoping, domestic food production in China has been on a rapid upward trajectory as the country has undergone a period of drastic economic growth. But as China’s economy has grown, so too has its population’s intake of food, leading to situation where food loss and waste, loss of farmland and changing diets all have contributed toward growing food insecurity in the country. The outcome of the interplay of these factors have resulted in China’s domestic food production being unable to sustain current consumption habits. Making matters worse are environmental impacts such as the floods in the Yangtze River basin, which have hampered China’s capacity to produce and transport rice.
Unforeseen environmental impacts notwithstanding, the scope of the food security problem facing China is nevertheless complicated. China is dependent on imported soybeans and as well as pork, both of which are a traditional staple, and one of which — pork — has seen a drawdown in available supply due to the culling of hog herds as a result of African Swine Fever. While China still has considerable stocks of corn, rice and wheat, and the country has diversified its sources of soybeans, policymakers in Beijing are nonetheless aware that the country is still dependent on imports. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has warned that unless the country undertakes major agricultural reforms, it could face a food shortfall by the year 2025. The ongoing China-US trade war also compounds food security issues for China, as do the threats posed by an aging population and rapid urbanisation.
And these forces are gradually leading to a shrinking rural labour force, which is a challenge China’s leadership has recognised as a policy priority area. All this, as well as other factors, have directly led to the elevation of food security as a top leadership priority in China. As such, China’s food security has been brought up more and more in recent years, and has been closely linked to the entire country’s national security. Food security is now regularly being listed as a national challenge equal in importance to matters such as national energy security or finance. As Chinese President Xi Jinping declares food security to be a critical “foundation for national security,” the leader understands the constraints within which he is operating as China nonetheless remains subject to realities beyond the control of its leadership.
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China, India & Russia Agree to Improve Multilateral Cooperation
Following a meeting held between diplomats representing China, India and Russia, the foreign affairs agencies of the three countries agreed to speed up multilateral cooperation on a variety of issues. The meeting saw leadership of the three countries commit to aligning policies to better deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recovery, terrorism, drug trafficking, organized crime, natural disasters, food security and climate change. The discussions were held digitally as part of the 18th round of talks between the foreign ministers under the Russia-India-China (RIC) format.
In their meeting, the ministers are said to have reiterated a joint commitment toward a multi-polar and rebalanced world based on the principles of “sovereign equality of nations” and “respect for international law.” The wording of the joint communique published following discussions reflected each countries’ interest in approaching contemporary realities through reform of the multilateral system. In addition, officials from China and Russia reiterated the importance of India to determining the outcome of international affairs while also supporting the country’s aspiration to play a greater role in the United Nations. The meeting also saw ministers of each participant agree to work toward deepening strategic partnership via the BRICS format, and strengthening cooperation in three pillars of political and security cooperation, economy and finance; and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Beyond bolstering ties and aligning policies aimed toward elevating the position of each participant, the ministers sought to exchange views on expanding the RIC trilateral cooperation format into other fields. In this regard, officials sought to reach consensus on how best to prevent an arms race in outer space by stressing the importance of transparency and confidence-building measures. The meeting also saw all participants make a joint declaration for enhancing the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and space operations through the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Finally, with all three expressing concern over the events unfolding in Afghanistan, officials from all participants noted rising concerns regarding the situation in Afghanistan, and called for formation of an inclusive government that represents all the ethnic and political groups of the country.
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