President Donald Trump mocked China on Tuesday for its pollution, which represents a sizable share of the world’s waste.
Trump posted a series of photos to his Truth Social account that showed islands of floating bottles, plastics, and other waste in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The president called the mess “A Gift from China.”
China is one of the foremost polluting countries, commonly ranking near the top on lists of nations that produce the most waste that finds its way into the natural environment. China was number four on a list of “highest ocean plastic waste polluters in 2025” put together by the United Kingdom’s GreenMatch.
China produces 71,000 metric tons of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean, according to GreenMatch. China ranked just behind Malaysia, which produces 73,000 metric tons. The Philippines and India took the top two spots at 360,000 metric tons and 130,000 metric tons, respectively.
China’s plastic manufacturing sector is the largest in the world and contributes to its chronic appearance at the top of pollution lists.
“China is responsible for 32% of global plastic materials production in 2021, making it the world number one plastic producer by far. China is followed by the world’s second largest plastic producing region: North-America, they are responsible for 18% of the plastic production. In Europe, the plastic footprint is 15%,” according to hydration company Aquablue.
The International Trade Administration reported in 2023 that “China discharged 55.7 billion cubic meters of wastewater in 2021, 28.7% of which originated from industrial sources.”
“The PRC’s sludge volume could reach 90 million tons by 2025, according to the PRC’s National Development of Reform and Commission. … China’s sludge has low organic matter but possesses high silt and heavy metal content levels,” the Trade Administration said.
The evidence of China’s substantial waste is obvious. In 2022, the world’s largest buildup of plastic waste in the ocean floated between California and Hawaii. A study of the plastic island found that China was a top contributor. Waste from China was estimated to make up 32% of the plastic in the floating mound. Japan was the largest contributor to the monstrosity, responsible for an estimated 34% of the plastic waste.
