Most arguments for detailing communist China’s war preparations are based upon sabre-rattling displays of military force to Taiwan. This is true, but an insightful article at Unherd.com, adds another dimension to this. The argument is that under orders from emperor Xi, the Chinese are pulling out all stops to grow more food. China already grows enough food to easily feed its population. But the concern of the CCP is that if, and when war erupts, China most certainly will be cut off from overseas livestock food imports; China imported 120 million metric tons of grain for livestock food last year.
Thus, trees planted for reforestation are being cut down and land cleared, although much of the land is on slopes that will be subject to rapid erosion, and consequent soil loss. This is acknowledged, but the perceived threat of the West is too great to worry about the loss of billons of trees, and the deforestation rate in China now exceeds even that of the Amazon rain forests. The Leftoid Greens in the West are silent about this, as being communist, China can do no wrong.