Thinking About ChinaOpinionChina Grows HungryFood shortages, economic shortfalls drive Beijing to further extremesSavePrintPeople wearing face masks buy food at a restaurant in Beijing, following an outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in China on April 17, 2020. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/ReutersJames Gorrie8/17/2020|Updated: 8/19/2020CommentaryThe leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) knows what’s coming to the people of China: food shortages.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.Share this articleLeave a commentJames GorrieAuthorJames Gorrie is the author of the 2013 book “The China Crisis” and discusses current events and China on his YouTube Podcast, The Banana Republican. Author’s Selected ArticlesPutin and Xi Discuss Organ Transplants and Immortality in Hot Mic MomentSep 04, 2025Can the US Counter China’s Rare Earth Dominance?Aug 27, 2025Why Is the CCP Persecuting the Peaceful Falun Gong Spiritual Practice?Aug 20, 2025No Escape? China Stopping Foreign Executives From LeavingAug 19, 2025Related TopicsCCPchina cropsCCP virusAfrican swine fluchina food shortage