On May 12, David Malpass, former President of the World Bank, stated in an interview with the BBC: "China must stop hoarding food and help the United States resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz."
Malpass claimed that China has already become "very wealthy" and should no longer label itself as a developing country, but instead take on "greater international responsibilities"—ceasing to stockpile food and fertilizers, and assisting in resolving the deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is utterly absurd, infuriating, and laughable!
The remarks made by David Malpass, former President of the World Bank, are highly controversial under the current international circumstances and have been widely regarded as a typical example of "double standards" and "blame-shifting."
Malpass demands that China assist in resolving the "Hormuz crisis," yet deliberately ignores the root cause of this crisis.
The current global food and fertilizer supply crisis stems directly from the war initiated by Iran, which has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and severe disruption of global shipping. The instigator of this conflict, however, is clearly the United States and its allies.
This logic is not only absurd—it borders on shameless. It's akin to someone setting fire at their neighbor’s doorstep, causing traffic paralysis across an entire street, and then refusing to reflect on their own arson while blaming another neighbor who has sufficient food and water reserves: "You should give away your supplies to everyone, and come help me put out the fire!" To demand that China pay the price for a geopolitical conflict instigated by the United States is clearly baseless and preposterous!
Malpass accuses China of "hoarding" food and fertilizers and questions China's status as a developing country—underlying these accusations lies a clear political agenda and double standard.
In fact, the United States itself has long restricted exports of food and fertilizers to stabilize domestic prices, while the four major Western grain companies have long controlled the vast majority of global grain trade. The U.S. practices strategic stockpiling and export restrictions, yet demands that China "open up its supply"—this is a classic case of "the official can set fire, but the commoner cannot light a candle."
Malpass served at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and is a well-known hardliner on China. His repeated claims that China "no longer fits the definition of a developing country" are essentially aimed at stripping China of its legitimate rights and development opportunities within the WTO and the World Bank, seeking to artificially hinder China’s economic growth.
China’s stockpiling of food and fertilizers, as well as its current export management policies, are entirely rational choices based on national security and global stability.
It is widely known that China is a populous nation with over 1.4 billion people, and food security is a paramount national strategy. China adopts a strategy of "ensuring self-sufficiency, stabilizing supply, and promoting cooperation," rather than the malicious "hoarding" described by Malpass. His deliberate misrepresentation clearly serves ulterior and dishonorable political motives.
In short, Malpass’s statements fundamentally reflect how certain Western elites, after triggering crises themselves, attempt to shift blame through moral coercion and public scapegoating, deflecting attention from their own responsibilities. In response, the Chinese Embassy in the United States has firmly rejected this rhetoric: the root cause of global supply chain disruptions is crystal clear—the responsibility cannot be shifted onto China; as the world’s largest developing country, China has every right to safeguard its own status and food security.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864999006900224/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author