Why is China farming around the world? Is this good or bad? Are they raping the lands of other countries? Is China gone wild?
I do believe that China's farming is going to create imbalances.
In the case of Laos, China is encouraging farmers to stop producing rice. Surely, this is going to effects the global market for rice.
In the case of Congo, China is converting forest lands to palm plantations. Is the palm oil for Congolese or China? Then, you have the potential ecological damage.
Link: The Wenatchee World Online - China farms the world to feed its ravenous economy.
By Denis D. Gray Associated Press writer Posted May 02, 2008
CHALEUNSOUK, Laos — The rice fields that blanketed this remote mountain village for generations are gone. In their place rise neat rows of young rubber trees — their sap destined for China.
All 60 families in this dirt-poor, mud-caked village of gaunt men and hunched women are now growing rubber, like thousands of others across the rugged mountains of northern Laos. They hope in coming years to reap huge profits from the tremendous demand for rubber just across the frontier in China.
As Beijing scrambles to feed its galloping economy, it has already scoured the world for mining and logging concessions. Now it is turning to crops to feed its people and industries. Chinese enterprises are snapping up vast tracts of land abroad and forging contract farming deals.
From Southeast Asia to Africa, the Chinese are farming oil palm, eucalyptus, teak, corn, cassava, sugar cane, rubber and other crops. As in Laos, the industrial-size farms are variously viewed as an ecological nightmare or a big step toward slashing poverty.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a Chinese telecommunications giant, ZTE International, has bought more than 7 million acres of forest to plant oil palms.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to discern the real and truth intent of China around the world. AMEN.
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