There seems almost nothing that the Japanese right wing can’t somehow blame on China. The country and its citizens have long been a target of discrimination here, particularly in areas such as housing. That’s only increased since the pandemic.
Japan’s right rails against what it calls the “China-fication” of Japan. In particular, they claim that Chinese businesses and wealthy individuals buying property here amounts to a stealth takeover. They’ve also protested against the Liberal Democratic Party’s plans to make it easier for wealthy Chinese tourists to obtain lengthy visitor visas.
But some say China’s attacking Japan in a more nefarious way: through solar panels.
Japan is, indeed, getting hotter. The summer of 2023 was the hottest in 100 years. This phenomenon isn’t particular to Japan, though. It echoes a general worldwide trend across the upper hemisphere. In the US, for example, the temperature rise has brought record-setting heat to Arizona and other states.
In other words: it’s climate change, stupid.
However, right-wingers have another theory. They blame the crushing heat on solar panels from China.
