Desertification control is central to People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) food security strategy, enabling the expansion of arable land and reducing dependence on U.S. agricultural imports amid rising geopolitical tensions. Xi Jinping has shifted the “Three Rural Issues” framework to prioritize grain self-sufficiency over rural economic development. These efforts underpin PRC’s push for strategic resilience, with large-scale land reclamation, soybean substitution plans, and omestic meat production advances designed to ensure food stability during potential conflicts or trade disruptions. Desertification success is being exported as a soft power tool, with the PRC promoting its “Chinese Solution” to ecological governance in Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East through One Belt One Road-linked partnerships, training programs, and international forums.
Desertification Control Drive Focuses on Food Security and Soft Power Influence – Jamestown
