Blame on China Spreads for Nepal Floods

Recent large-scale floods in Nepal have resulted in thousands of casualties and missing persons. In connection with this, criticism is mounting that China did not adequately share risk information from upstream areas of the flood, leading to a negative perception of China spreading within Nepal.

China is planning a railway and large-scale tunnel construction through the Himalayas, and as a preliminary step, is building a hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam. This project is intended to serve as a strategic hub for Tibet's economic prosperity and the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Himalayan region is a high-altitude area that rapidly uplifted during the Cenozoic era due to plate tectonics, making its geological structure highly unstable. There are concerns that carrying out large-scale construction in such tectonically unstable snow-covered mountains could potentially trigger massive crustal movements.

In the process of investigating the causes of these floods, alongside climate warming, suspicions are being raised that China's excessive construction in the region is also a contributing factor. This 'China responsibility' theory could provoke backlash from Nepal and other Southwest Asian countries, potentially acting as a negative obstacle to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The United States is intensifying tariff pressure on China and urging G7 and other allies to join. Through its tariff skirmish with Canada, the U.S. is demonstrating its harsh treatment even towards a physically close 'brother nation,' which is interpreted as a strong warning message to allies: join the U.S. bloc quickly, or face severe consequences.

The U.S. is expected to accelerate its alliance bloc strategy while maintaining its strong stance and tariffs against China. The Canada case is interpreted as a powerful message to other allies, including South Korea and Japan, and the U.S. will continue to increase pressure on its allies in this direction.

China is currently struggling with sluggish domestic demand and inhibited money circulation, with unemployment rates continuously rising, making it difficult to find an economic escape. If trade is also blocked, as suggested by the possibility of a 7.5% U.S. tariff, the Chinese economy could fall into even deeper frustration.

China is experiencing regional conflicts between Beijing and Shanghai, which were historically rivals. Recently, Beijing has seen population outflow, and Shanghai has experienced shopping mall vacancies, with both cities seeing a halt in rising home and apartment prices. This leads to structural domestic demand sluggishness and worsening consumer sentiment, negatively impacting the Chinese economy as a whole.

In China, there is a saying, 'Xiruan' (細軟), which refers to preparing to flee during a crisis by taking children, women, and valuables. This historical survival strategy of the Chinese people demonstrates the spreading psychology of attempting to move assets overseas as the economic crisis deepens.

The Chinese sports brand 'Anta' has successfully expanded overseas, making headlines in Chinese media with reports such as 'Anta scored a hit' (安踏が安打した), signifying success. This symbolically illustrates Chinese companies looking overseas and attempting successful relocation during times of crisis.

Among Chinese youth, the 'Bailan' phenomenon, meaning 'let it rot,' is spreading, revealing a deep sense of despair towards society as a whole. This, coupled with the long-standing popularity of the banned Hong Kong book 'I Don't Want to Be Chinese in My Next Life,' shows a deepening mistrust and desire for disengagement from Chinese society.