Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I would not be so quick assume that the reason white rice is popularly consumed in China is ignorance of the nutritional benefits of whole grains. Eating wholesome, healthy foods is a primary focus of Chinese cuisine. It is a simple matter of preference that most Chinese people eat white rice, since the flavor of brown rice is typically undesirable to the Chinese palate.

Speaking as a first generation Chinese American who grew up being scolded for leaving a teaspoon of rice in my bowl, I find Gaffer's comments regarding the wanton attitude of the Chinese people to our staple food to be extremely narrow minded, sanctimonious, and ignorant. It is precisely because of rice's importance to the Chinese diet that throwing any bit of it away is seen as extremely disrespectful.