Foreign

Enhancing strategic autonomy serves interests of Europe

Published

3 years ago

May 13, 2022

By Zhang Jian

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has broken the peace of Europe, which is a pernicious consequence of the containment strategy implemented by the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward Russia over the past decades.

As a product of the Cold War, NATO should have been dissolved when the Cold War ended. However, in order to maintain its global hegemony, the U.S. has stuck to the Cold War mentality, willfully pursued group politics, and continued to use NATO as a strategic tool for controlling Europe and containing Russia.

Europe, caught in the vortex of bloc confrontation, has become one of the main victims of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine will exert a serious impact on the European economy. In 2008, the U.S.-originated global financial crisis severely impacted Europe, plunging many European countries, especially countries in Southern Europe, nto austerity due to soaring fiscal deficit and debt.

Fourteen years later, the sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) against Russia and Russia’s counter-sanctions following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict have again made a massive impact on the European economy.

Prices have already skyrocketed in many countries in Europe. EU’s policies on decoupling from Russia have increased its reliance on more expensive liquefied natural gas from the U.S., significantly elevated production costs of European companies, and weakened the long-term competitiveness of European industry, which will disrupt Europe’s energy transition and climate policies and once again raise the levels of fiscal deficit and debt in Europe.

The combined impacts of the Ukraine crisis and other structural factors have rendered the long-term economic prognosis for Europe rather bleak. The gaps between Europe and the U.S. in terms of both economic growth rate and size are believed to become wider.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict will escalate Europe’s political and social division. Over the past more than 10 years, Europe has been plagued by increasingly prominent social and political division and polarization besides economic slowdown, which is largely a consequence of unsatisfactory economic conditions and declining living standards.

Europe has lost 10 years to the global financial crisis. Socially and politically, the continent’s countries would suffer irreparable harm if the Russia-Ukraine conflict were to drag on for another decade.

Continuation and escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict will pose serious risks to the security of Europe. The U.S. and NATO are currently escalating confrontation with Russia. As they significantly increase military spending, the possibility of a new Iron Curtain in Europe goes straight up.

Many European countries are close neighbors of Russia. Hostility, antagonism, and confrontation between them and Russia can easily spiral up and worsen, which is detrimental to Europe’s security. This can hinder Europe’s development and cause accident and misjudgment that lead to new conflict or even war.

The strategic goal of the U.S. is to maintain its global hegemony. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has severely damaged Europe’s economic and security interests, but served the strategic intentions of the U.S.

If Europe stops getting its energy from Russia, U.S. energy, which was not competitive before, will be able to quickly take over European markets.

Besides, a large portion of the substantial increase in military expenditure in European countries will flow into the U.S. and help improve the capabilities of U.S. military enterprises to develop and produce new equipment and weapons, which eventually increases Europe’s military dependence on the U.S.

With tensions between Europe and Russia mounting, the U.S. can not only use security guarantee as a pretext for further tightening control over Europe, but realize the goal of containing Russia through Europe.

Affected to different degrees by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. and Europe have clearly different strategic intentions in responding to the conflict. In the long run, Europe needs to handle its relations with Russia on the basis of its own interests, carry out more active and productive dialogue with Russia and build a new security framework that can truly help realize lasting peace and stability in Europe. Such a new security framework will also enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy to a great extent.

Europe has tried to pursue strategic autonomy for a long time, but the endeavor has been openly or secretly obstructed and opposed by the U.S.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not only brought the fact of Europe’s lack of strategic autonomy under the spotlight, but further demonstrated the necessity for it to enhance strategic autonomy.

Facts have shown that hegemonism, power politics, and bloc confrontation pursued by the U.S. will only undermine Europe’s interests, and only a stable UN-centered international system that sticks to multilateralism can serve its interests.

In recent years, many farsighted personages in Europe have become keenly aware that the U.S. is not a reliable ally of Europe. While the extremely selfish “America First” policy advocated by the previous U.S. administration strained the relations between the U.S. and Europe, the current U.S. administration has only changed the wording, rather than the “America First” essence of the country’s foreign policy.

Many of Washington’s actions, including insistence on the restrictive “Buy American” provisions over the past years, the hasty withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, and the establishment of the so-called trilateral security partnership with Britain and Australia, have made Europe more alert to the “America First” policy.

Foreign

Understanding the history of World War II to build a peaceful future

Published

6 hours ago

August 11, 2025

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By Zhu Chengshan

“Dead To Rights,” a film about the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, recently premiered in China to significant acclaim, sparking a surge of interest in domestically-produced war films this summer.

Historical truth transcends time, possessing both revelatory power and enduring impact. The film portrays 15-year-old Luo Jin, an apprentice at Nanjing’s Huadong Photo Studio, who uncovered harrowing evidence while developing photographs for Japanese officers during the city’s occupation. The images captured scenes of mass killings, rape, and other atrocities committed against Chinese civilians by Japanese aggressors.

At great personal risk, Luo secretly duplicated dozens of the images and compiled them into an album. These materials were later safeguarded by Wu Xuan, a patriotic student, ultimately serving as pivotal evidence at the trial of Hisao Tani, the principal perpetrator of the Nanjing Massacre.

The true history cannot be erased. No matter how relentlessly Japanese right-wing forces or historical revisionists attempt to rewrite the past, their efforts are ultimately futile.

Does that painful chapter of history still carry meaning in our time? The answer is unquestionably yes. Patriotic education remains a lasting theme.

Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the responsibility for war crimes lies with a few militarists, but not the people. However, people cannot at any time forget the severe crimes committed by aggressors. The Nanjing Massacre, committed by Japanese aggressors, was an atrocious anti-human crime and a dark page in the history of humanity.

This blood-soaked memory serves as a solemn reminder: when a nation is poor and weak, its people become vulnerable to the gravest violations of fundamental rights. We must never forget these historical lessons nor allow such tragedies to recur.

History serves both as the best textbook and dose of sobriety. The Nanjing Massacre remains one of the darkest and most harrowing chapters in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. This is a historical truth universally acknowledged by the international community.

Throughout the war, more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded. China suffered direct economic losses of over $100 billion and indirect losses exceeding $500 billion, calculated in terms of 1937 levels.

As China commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we recognize this conflict as modern China’s longest and largest struggle against foreign aggression..Despite paying the heaviest national price, it culminated in the Chinese people’s first complete victory in their fight for liberation – a triumph that belonged not only to China but to all peace-loving people worldwide.

A truthful understanding of World War II history is fundamental to building lasting peace for the present and the future. China’s prolonged resistance tied down vast numbers of Japanese troops, shattering the scheme of Japan joining forces with fascist Germany and Italy to launch a two-front assault and dominate the world.

As the main Eastern battlefield of the anti-fascist war, China’s war of resistance made a critical contribution to its worldwide victory and the cause of justice and freedom for humanity. Franklin D. Roosevelt, then U.S. President, once commented that without China, or if China had been defeated, many more Japanese divisions would have been deployed to other areas.

Today’s world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and these changes are accelerating. Hegemonism, power politics and Cold War mentalities alongside growing economic coercion is on the rise. In the face of these challenges, the Chinese people feel more deeply than ever the importance of patriotism, unity, and self-strengthening.

This makes it all the more vital to confidently share the great significance of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and to highlight the decisive role of the main Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism.

To promote enduring peace and stability across the world, we must engage with history in a spirit of sincerity and humility – drawing wisdom from its experiences, and learning from its lessons, so that the true history can guide the way forward for all humanity.

(Zhu Chengshan is a Professor at Changzhou University, former vice president of the Chinese Society for the History of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and former curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders)

Foreign

Chinese products bring coolness to European consumers

Published

7 hours ago

August 11, 2025

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By Li Gang, People’s Daily

With heat waves sweeping across Europe this summer, demand for Chinese-made air conditioners (AC) is rising, signaling a shift in the region which is long accustomed to getting through the season without cooling systems.

Customs data reveals China’s air conditioner exports to EU countries reached $3.76 billion during the first half of 2025, representing a 43.2% year-on-year increase and setting a new record for the period. This growth continues the robust export momentum established in 2024.

Air conditioning is not as widely used in Europe as in many other parts of the world, due to high rental rates, deeply rooted awareness of environmental protection, and the high cost of installation and operation. Drilling into walls is often banned in historic buildings, and landlords generally won’t approve outdoor AC units. Installation must be carried out by certified professionals, often costing several hundred euros, with regular maintenance required.

To cope with the situation, Chinese air conditioner brand Midea has rolled out a portable split-type air conditioner for the European market. Portable, quiet, and comfortable, the product meets the needs of local consumers and is popular in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and beyond.

“This model has indoor and outdoor units, but unlike traditional split-type AC units, it’s easy to install and can be moved around. Its cooling performance is excellent,” said Zhu Zhou, sales director of Midea Residential Air Conditioners in Europe.

In Northern Europe, buying and installing an AC can cost around 3,000 euros. It’s a bit cheaper in Western and Southern Europe. The portable split-type AC is priced at 1,199 euros, users can save a lot by installing it themselves, Zhu said.

The spike in demand has ramped up production. At Midea’s smart factory in Nansha district of Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, assembly of the portable split-type AC units is running in an orderly manner.

“We’ve shipped over 80,000 units so far, with another 20,000 scheduled for production,” said Sun Qi, head of production planning at the factory.

Midea has established dedicated production lines to ensure quality and output. The AC products are shipped to Europe via sea and the China-Europe freight trains. The sea freight route begins at Nansha Port in Guangzhou, passes through the Strait of Malacca, rounds South Africa, and arrives at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The rail freight route begins in Guangzhou, exits China via Horgos Port, and travels through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and other countries before arriving in Germany. In the first half of the year, Midea’s AC sales in Europe rose 35 percent.

Multiple Chinese brands are gaining traction. The portable AC products of TCL DeLonghi, a joint venture between home appliances groups TCL and DeLonghi, are also selling well in Europe.

“Our sales are up 25 percent this year in the European market,” said Du Quanbin, head of market management at the overseas marketing center of TCL DeLonghi Home Appliances (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd., located in Nantou town of Zhongshan, Guangdong.

Production lines at the company’s production workshop are running at full capacity. According to Du, orders for Europe have already been shipped, and the products being made will be sent to countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina, stocking up in advance for summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Beyond air conditioners, Chinese-made cooling products are becoming common in German homes. German consumers report these offerings combine affordability with innovative features.

Stephen, a Berlin plumber who frequently works in uncooled environments, recently purchased a Chinese-made cooling uniform from a department store. The garment features breathable, heat-resistant fabric with UV protection and specialized cooling technology that maintains body temperatures up to 15°C below ambient conditions – a practical solution for extreme heat.

Shenzhen-based appliance supplier Weikenxiong observed a March surge in European orders for compact electric fans, now selling approximately 200,000 units monthly at over 100 euros each.

“This product was once a hit across Southeast Asia,” said Yu Yuewu, head of Yuecheng Plastic Products Factory in Longdu town, Chenghai district, Shantou of Guangdong. Holding one of the fans, Yu explained that it features an energy-efficient motor for powerful airflow, semiconductor cooling, and a built-in power bank, providing a steady stream of cool air.

The European market places strict demands on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. “To maintain long-term market growth, the industry chain must push technological boundaries by adhering to high standards,” Yu added, expressing optimism about future prospects.

Foreign

Trump Condemns Killings of Christians in Nigeria, Promises Strong Response

Published

12 hours ago

August 11, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The United States has issued a strong condemnation of recent massacres targeting Christians in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa, describing the violence as “horrific” and pledging coordinated action with international partners.

The statement follows a series of deadly incidents, including the slaughter of 27 Christians in Bindi Ta-hoss, Nigeria, by suspected Islamist Fulani militants. Witnesses said many victims—women and children among them—were burned alive while sheltering in a church.

“I lost my wife and second daughter in the attack,” survivor Solomon Sunday told reporters. “They were burned alive.”

Just days earlier, on July 27, 49 Christians were hacked to death with machetes during prayers in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Authorities blamed the ISIS-linked Allied Democratic Forces. Across the region, groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa are accused of killing, displacing, and seizing land from Christian communities.

“The Trump administration condemns in the strongest terms this horrific violence against Christians,” the White House said, stressing that defending religious freedom is both a moral obligation and a U.S. foreign policy priority.

Human rights organisations have labelled the attacks a campaign of “ethno-religious cleansing.” John Eibner, president of Christian Solidarity International, noted that over 165 Christians have been killed in Nigeria’s Plateau State alone in the past four months. “People are being killed like chickens, and nothing is being done,” added local youth leader D’Young Mangut.

According to Open Doors, more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Over the past decade, jihadist violence in sub-Saharan Africa has claimed about 150,000 lives and displaced more than 16 million Christians. In Plateau State, more than 64 communities have reportedly been seized by armed Fulani militants.

Religious leaders warn the violence is systematic. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, who lost 20 parishioners in a recent attack, accused militants of seeking to transform parts of Nigeria into an Islamic State. Families of victims say they are “tired of condolences” and demand tangible protection.

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, called for urgent global attention: “For too long, nobody has been talking about the horrific wholesale slaughter of Christians. The Western world needs to wake up and be outraged.”

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