 Some argue that the character 's popularity is dependent on its contrast with stereotypes of the Yellow Peril or Japanese people in particular . American opinion of China and Chinese @-@ Americans grew more positive in the 1920s and 30s in contrast to the Japanese , who were increasingly viewed with suspicion . Sheng @-@ mei Ma argues that the character is a psychological over @-@ compensation to " rampant paranoia over the racial other . " 
