China is able to feed 23 percent of the world's population from 7 percent of the arable land-"by crowding some 2,000 human beings onto each square mile of cultivated earth in the valleys and flood plains," as Fairbank points out.
In his book "The Revenge Of Geography," Robert D. Kaplan highlights the remarkable capacity of China to sustain a significant portion of the global population, specifically 23 percent, despite having only 7 percent of the world's arable land. This is achieved through intensive agricultural practices that allow for a high density of people, with roughly 2,000 individuals residing per square mile on the cultivated land found in China's fertile valleys and flood plains.
Such population density poses challenges in terms of resource management and environmental sustainability. The situation illustrates not only China's agricultural innovation but also the geopolitical implications of land use and population distribution in regions with limited arable land. Kaplan's insights underscore the critical intersection of geography, demography, and economics in shaping global conflicts and the inherent vulnerabilities that come with such a crowded agricultural landscape.
