I have always seen such BS of West trying to undermine China. Getting rid of agriculture can harm China more than anything else. Other than countries like USA, Brazil, Canada, Australia, farming is a big economic drag to white man developed countries including Europe.
Farming is so unprofitable that Europeans need to subsidize their farmers and farm subsidy is perpetually among the greatest budget allocation in EU. Agriculture subsidy is a source big complaints against EU from USA to developed countries but why Europe is not closing down their farms.
Similarly, Japan, Korea, Taiwan are holding on to agriculture and everyone know Japanese farmers are surviving due to rampant protectionism.
Why not doing something more productive?
The reason is to become a strong country, food security is a
BIG MUST. A country will be hijack by others if you are not self-sufficient in your food production.
The worrying trend is PRC leaders may buy into white man "market capitalism" theory that even white man themselves (european) dont believe, and start neglecting their own agriculture.
PRC government has already start to shift from 100% food sufficiency and if the trend persist, it will be worrying.
Has China really ditched its grain self-sufficiency policy? | CER