German Media: (Heatwaves Roiling) The "Coolness" Made in China
While Sino-European trade tensions are escalating over trade imbalances, Europe's rare and intense heatwave has turned Chinese air conditioners into in-demand, high-selling products.
According to the Daily Mirror, the continuous extreme heat across Europe has made air conditioners from China a scarce commodity. From the perspective of Chinese media, this very situation underscores the reality that "Europe cannot do without China." An article titled "European Heatwave, Chinese Benefit" states:
"As the scorching weather persists, air conditioning units are becoming increasingly popular in Germany. Merchants report that demand for air conditioning equipment has reached record highs over the past few weeks. Due to their low prices, Chinese-made air conditioners are especially favored. Sales of Chinese brands in Europe have been setting new records continuously. Midea, a company based in Foshan, China, announced that its revenue for the second quarter this year is expected to increase by 20%, while Haier from Qingdao declared it would achieve double-digit growth."
Chinese official media have also taken note of the surge in sales of Chinese air conditioners across Europe, skillfully linking this phenomenon to the ongoing Sino-European trade disputes. Xinhua recently wrote: 'European Heatwave Sparks Surge in Chinese Air Conditioner Sales,' while the People's Daily asserted that the popularity of Chinese air conditioners reveals a 'simple truth': economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe is fundamentally mutually beneficial and win-win.
The message conveyed by such reports is clear: rather than complaining about Chinese competitors taking away business from domestic European companies, European politicians should be grateful for affordable goods coming from China.
Naturally, European politicians' criticisms of Beijing's trade policies extend far beyond air conditioners alone. What troubles Brussels is China's ever-growing trade surplus, now reaching a scale of $1 billion per day. Industries across Europe—ranging from automobiles and machinery manufacturing to chemicals and aerospace—are all feeling the impact.
An analysis article from the Daily Mirror writes that the EU believes government subsidies in China have led to overcapacity, which is now flooding into the European market in large quantities. China, on the other hand, argues that Chinese products succeed in Europe due entirely to European consumers’ acceptance and the inherent competitiveness of Chinese goods. Both sides remain entrenched in their positions, with negotiations yielding no results so far.
"To alleviate the so-called 'China Shock 2.0,' Sino-European representatives plan to negotiate specific measures in October this year. As an initial step, a mechanism for monitoring trade flows will be established. However, Brussels does not wish to launch a full-scale tariff war against China like former U.S. President Trump did."
Beijing, meanwhile, maintains that the real reason behind China’s trade surplus lies in the lack of competitiveness among European products. The People's Daily wrote: "The fact that Chinese air conditioners are booming in Europe precisely illustrates that Chinese competition is not the problem—the real issue is outdated industrial infrastructure and lagging product innovation capabilities in Europe."
The article continues: 'When local manufacturers fail to meet market demand, Chinese products that offer reasonable pricing and practical value naturally gain popularity. While the EU engages in ideological battles, European citizens are actually longing for the cool breeze brought by Chinese-made products.'
Online in China, an AI-generated image is widely circulating: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen seated in her office, enjoying refreshing breezes from a Midea air conditioner made in China.
Reports circulating online in China claim that many Europeans are installing air conditioners for the first time in their lives, expressing great delight. One Weibo user wrote: 'It feels a bit like how our ancestors must have felt when they first saw cars.'
According to data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, the average Chinese household owns 1.5 air conditioners. It is precisely because of this widespread ownership that many Chinese people find it hard to comprehend seeing Europeans drenched in sweat during summer heatwaves.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870669119471628/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author