Why Did China Urge Its Citizens to Stockpile Food?

The Chinese government has called on its citizens to build up food reserves as the country attempts to combat a limited outbreak of the pandemic that disrupts transportation. On the evening of November 1, the Ministry of Commerce published a statement on its website saying, "(We urge) families to stock a certain amount of staple products to meet daily needs and emergencies." The announcement did not specify the reason for the call or whether the country is threatened by a food shortage. The ministry also urged various local authorities to facilitate agricultural production, ensure the flow of agricultural supply, monitor the stock of meat and vegetables, and maintain price stability. Supply chains were disrupted due to quarantines during the peak of the pandemic outbreak in early 2020 in several parts of the country, and many highways were closed.