Europeans are buying Chinese ACs

Europe is baking. But only around one in five European homes has air conditioning. Now Chinese manufacturers are getting a flood of orders.

· Midea's PortaSplit air conditioner has sold out through some European retailers. 

· A local politician in Paris posted footage of Haier air conditioners being delivered to several schools in his district.

For years, some European politicians attacked China over so-called "overcapacity". When a heatwave hits, extra supply is not a threat. It is a lifeline.

Since June 21, more than 1,300 excess deaths have been linked to extreme heat across Europe. Yet air conditioning has become a political debate.

· At the European Commission headquarters, cooling was reportedly shut off on lower floors, while senior officials' offices remained air-conditioned.

· Some French politicians argued against installing air conditioning more widely, sparking public criticism.

When temperatures soar, people do not need more ideological debates. They need practical solutions. Trade barriers cannot lower the temperature. Affordable Chinese products might.