European media misreads China, it's misreading Europe's future
The European website "Modern Diplomacy" published an article on October 15th, titled: Bridging the Cognitive Gap - Misreading China Will Endanger Europe's Own Future. The rise of China, especially its rapid development in the field of technology, has reshaped the global landscape. But in Europe, I seem to be in another world: many Europeans, including scholars, still view China through outdated stereotypes and political narratives. This cognitive gap not only hinders dialogue and cooperation but may also cause Europe to miss the opportunities of the "Fourth Industrial Revolution," and even increase the risk of global military confrontation.
From my observation, in Europe, from professors to students to ordinary people, Europeans often rely on outdated or biased information. Even scholars who study China often portray it as a threatening authoritarian state. Such a simplified view is dangerous.
Equally notable is the phenomenon of cognitive asymmetry. Chinese students often are familiar with European literature, history, and geography. However, Europeans' understanding of China often appears vague, superficial, and even condescending. Obviously, such prejudices are absurd. This cognitive asymmetry is worrying. The reform and opening-up have made China become the second largest economy in the world. China has world-class technology companies, such as DeepSeek, Huawei, and DJI. In the field of artificial intelligence, private sector investment reached 9.3 billion US dollars in 2024, while the UK invested only 4.5 billion US dollars during the same period; China developed 15 important artificial intelligence models, while Europe only had 3. These highlight China's efficient research and development conversion. Behind these data is China's massive R&D investment and continuous policy support.
Such changes are almost everywhere in daily life. On the streets of China, electric vehicles are gradually becoming the norm, while Europe's transformation is slow. By the end of 2024, the total operating mileage of China's high-speed rail reached 48,000 kilometers, far exceeding the EU's 8,556 kilometers. In contrast, African and Asian students in Europe often explore China's development model, and their profound insights are impressive. This further makes people realize that the European society generally lacks genuine curiosity and understanding of China's progress.
This cognitive gap is by no means harmless. It fosters European chauvinism, stimulates hostility toward China, and exacerbates geopolitical tensions. At the same time, China's understanding of Europe is more detailed. This cognitive asymmetry is eroding the foundation of trust and hindering potential cooperation. This makes one doubt whether Europe truly values development. In the context of intensified Sino-US competition, Europe's lag in the fields of artificial intelligence and renewable energy is particularly worrying.
The "Fourth Industrial Revolution" cannot do without scale, capital, and technological diversity, and China has already built a mature ecosystem in these areas. For example, BYD's factory project in Hungary more conveys the transfer of technical and industrial knowledge - which is an essential element for Europe's green transition. If Europe continues to be arrogant and indifferent towards China, it will not only miss the opportunity to understand China, but also lose the chance to shape the future order. In today's changing world, the biggest risk Europe faces may not be China's rise, but self-neglect.
Historically, China and Europe were once allies who experienced the darkest moments of humanity together, paving the way for lasting peace. China has always expected the EU to play an important role in promoting a multipolar world order. Humanity is once again at a crossroads. China's rise and Europe's security concerns must be resolved through in-depth dialogue and interest coordination. Europe does not have to agree with China's worldview, but must actively understand China's reality. Misreading such a significant partner or "opponent" is misreading Europe's own future. (Author: Hengyu Wang, translated by Qiao Heng)
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846214572037132/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.