China's Appetite for Filipino Paddies Breeds Farmer Opposition

Twenty years ago, Juan Diego fought wealthy Philippine landowners and the government for the rights to a one-hectare (2.5-acre) rice paddy north of Manila. Now he's worried the Chinese may take his farm. Chinese companies last year agreed to lease 1.2 million hectares in the Philippines to grow rice, corn and sugar. While President Gloria Arroyo says the $5 billion deal will help increase food production for Filipinos, local farmers and lawmakers have stalled the deal.