378: Chapter 378 Europe: Five Countries Turn Against Each Other

Brussels in December is the coldest place in Europe. It isn't the temperature—the chill of minus five degrees is just as biting in Berlin and Warsaw—but the political wind, which blows like an icy blade from the North Sea, piercing to the marrow. Inside the European Council Building, the heating was turned up high, but as the leaders of the twenty-seven nations sat around the circular conference table, the air was as cold as the Siberian tundra.

This building is the symbol of power in Brussels, its glass curtain wall facade shimmering with a cold blue light under the winter night lamps. Inside the hall, crystal chandeliers cast a warm yellow glow onto the deep brown walnut tabletop, onto the solemn faces of the national leaders, and onto the twenty-seven national flag badges on the table. The European Union flag hung in the center, blue with gold stars, but at this moment, it looked like a funeral shroud.

This was the final European Union summit of 2020. There was only one agenda item: Europe's Strategic Autonomy. But on a practical level, this question was translated into a single sentence—who should Europe rely on, cooperate with, and oppose?

Merkel was the first to stand up.

She wore a Crimson suit jacket, her silver-white short hair combed meticulously. The sixty-six-year-old German Chancellor had been in power for fifteen years and had seen many storms. At this moment, her face was calm, but there was an unquestionable resolve in her eyes. She held a document in her hand, thirty pages thick, with the European Union emblem and the German flag printed on the cover.

“Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain jointly propose—” Her voice echoed through the hall, clear as a bell, “the establishment of a ‘Comprehensive Technological Partnership’ with Xingchen. The formation of a ‘Digital Alliance.’”

The large screen behind her lit up with a title in blue text on a white background, concise and sharp:

Europe-China Digital Alliance Initiative

Technical Cooperation: 6G Communication, AI Ethics, Quantum Computing, Semiconductor R&D, Cybersecurity

Market Opening: European government procurement markets open to Xingchen; Xingchen Technology participates in European digital infrastructure

Investment Reciprocity: Xingchen invests in factories in Europe; European companies receive equal treatment in China

Standard Co-construction: Jointly formulate next-generation digital technology standards, from 5G to 6G, and from AI to Quantum

Merkel paused, her gaze sweeping across the room. Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki’s face was livid, the leaders of the three Baltic States were whispering to one another, and the Romanian President’s brow was furrowed. However, the leaders of France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain were all nodding.

“This is not a betrayal,” Merkel’s voice was low and firm, “this is a choice. Europe needs technology, and Xingchen has technology. Europe needs a market, and Xingchen has a market. Europe needs standards, and Xingchen is willing to set standards with us. It is that simple.”

Macron stood up, the young French President wearing a well-tailored dark blue suit with a French flag badge pinned to his lapel. His voice carried a passion characteristic of the French: “I second the motion. Europe cannot forever be America's sidekick. For seventy years, we have relied on America for security, for technology, and for finance. And then what? America withdraws from the Paris Agreement, America withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal, and America imposes tariffs on Europe. This is the result of reliance.”

He paused, his tone becoming even sharper: “Now, a choice stands before us. Not China, not America, but Europe’s own choice. Cooperating with Xingchen is not because Xingchen is Chinese, but because Xingchen is the best. The best chips, the best batteries, the best AI, the best 6G. Europe needs these technologies like a fish needs water.”

The hall fell silent for a few seconds.

Then, Vestager stood up.

European Antitrust Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, fifty-five years old, had her blonde hair tied in a rigorous bun, and her dark blue suit was pressed without a single wrinkle. Since her failed investigation into Xingchen, her power had been significantly diminished; her office had moved from the second floor to the third, and its size had shrunk by two-thirds, but she remained the most persistent anti-China figure in the European Commission. At this moment, her face was pale, but her eyes were as sharp as a knife.

“Mr. President, I object.”

She opened another document, the cover printed with the flags of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania: “Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Romania jointly oppose the proposal.”

She looked at Merkel, her gaze cold: “Madam Chancellor, binding ourselves deeply with Xingchen is selling out European sovereignty. Xingchen’s technology is honey, but it is also poison. Today you bring in Xingchen, and tomorrow Europe’s industry will be named ‘Xingchen.’ If the chips are Xingchen’s, the batteries are Xingchen’s, the AI is Xingchen’s, and the 6G is Xingchen’s—at that point, will Europe still be Europe? Or will it be a colony of Xingchen?”

Merkel did not look at her, staring straight ahead like a statue.

Macron gave a cold laugh: “Ms. Vestager, what were the results of your last investigation into Xingchen? The Dresden factory went into production, the Grenoble R&D center was established, and five thousand jobs were created. What did you stop? You only proved that Europe needs Xingchen, and Xingchen does not need Europe’s hostility.”

Vestager’s face turned white, her lips trembling slightly.

The voting began.

On the electronic screen, the positions of the twenty-seven nations lit up:

In Favor: Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain—Five nations.

Opposed: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania—Six nations.

Abstaining: The other sixteen nations.

The proposal was rejected.

Vestager showed a triumphant smile, but there was a hint of strain in it. She had won the vote, but she knew the real war had only just begun.

Merkel also smiled. There was something chilling in that smile—not anger, not disappointment, but a composure that comes from having long anticipated the outcome.

In the afternoon, in the hallway of the EU headquarters.

Vestager walked down the long corridor, her high heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. On the walls flanking the corridor hung portraits of all the EU leaders; from its inception to the present, every face seemed to watch her silently. She walked quickly, as if trying to escape something.

Coming from the opposite direction, Merkel turned out from another hallway.

The two were face-to-face, only three steps apart.

Vestager stopped in her tracks. Merkel stopped as well.

The corridor was silent for three seconds.

Vestager spoke, her voice icy: “Madam Chancellor, the voting results were very clear. Your proposal was rejected.”

Merkel looked at her, her gaze as calm as a pool of stagnant water: “The voting results are merely the results of Brussels.”

Vestager frowned: “What do you mean?”

Merkel did not answer. She stepped slightly to the side and walked past Vestager, her pace unhurried.

Vestager turned around, watching her back: “Madam Chancellor, the rules of the European Union were formulated collectively by all member states. You cannot simply because a single vote failed—”

Merkel stopped her steps but did not look back: “Ms. Vestager, the rules of the EU are meant to protect European interests. If the rules cannot protect European interests, then the rules must be changed. If the rules cannot be changed, then the rules must be bypassed.”

She continued walking forward, disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Vestager stood where she was, her face deathly pale.

In the afternoon, at the German delegation's office.

This was a spacious meeting room, with the German and European Union flags hanging on the dark wood-paneled walls. Around the long table sat five people—Merkel, Macron, Italian Prime Minister Draghi, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez, and Dutch Prime Minister Rutte.

Draghi was seventy-three years old, with completely white hair and a lean face; as the former President of the European Central Bank, he was known for his calmness and pragmatism. Sánchez, at forty-eight, was Spain's youngest Prime Minister, with a keen gaze. Rutte, fifty-three, was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the Netherlands, famous for his mediation skills.

Merkel was the first to speak: “Brussels has rejected it. What do we do?”

Macron leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed on the table: “We execute independently. The core of Europe does not need Brussels' approval. France is in.”

Draghi nodded, his voice raspy and steady: “Italy is in. What the EU rejected was a proposal, not us. As a sovereign state, Italy has the right to sign bilateral agreements.”

Sánchez: “Spain is in.”

Rutte: “The Netherlands is in. We don't need permission from Brussels. Xingchen's investment in the Port of Rotterdam has already created two thousand jobs; we cannot lose those because of Brussels' bureaucracy.”

Merkel smiled, a look of relief in her expression: “Then let us issue a joint statement.”

The next morning, at the EU headquarters' press center.

The press briefing hall was packed with reporters, even more than for yesterday's summit. Cameras were densely packed together, and flashbulbs never stopped flickering. The five national leaders stood on the podium, with Merkel in the center, Macron to her right, and Draghi, Sánchez, and Rutte lined up in order.

Merkel read the statement, her voice calm and firm: “Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain have decided to bypass the European Union and sign bilateral technical cooperation agreements with Xingchen. The content of the agreements is identical to the proposal and takes effect immediately.”

The reporters below broke into an uproar.

Jean-Pierre, a reporter from Le Monde, raised his hand: “Madam Chancellor, does this mean the European Union is splitting?”

Merkel was silent for three seconds, then said: “The European Union is not splitting. What is splitting is—Brussels and the reality of Europe.”

Macron took over, his tone even more direct: “The core of Europe does not need Brussels' approval. The EU can reject a proposal, but it cannot stop member states from making choices that align with their own interests. That is sovereignty.”

In the audience, Vestager stood in a corner, her face pale. Her hands were shaking, her lips were trembling, and her whole body looked like a statue about to shatter.

A reporter spotted her and rushed over: “Ms. Vestager, the five nations have bypassed the EU. What is your view?”

Vestager opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She turned around and walked quickly away from the press center, her high heels tapping a frantic rhythm on the marble floor.

December 12th, European Union headquarters press conference.

Ursula stood on the podium. The sixty-year-old President of the European Commission had her silver hair combed meticulously, and her dark blue suit was pressed sharp. But on her face, there was an unmistakable exhaustion. The bags under her eyes were deep, her nasolabial folds were like carved lines, and the corners of her mouth sagged slightly.

“Today's voting results, and the joint statement from the five nations, have presented the European Union with an unprecedented challenge.” Her voice was low, as if she were reading an elegy.

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the reporters: “Europe needs to rethink what true Strategic Autonomy is. Perhaps it is not confrontation, not blockades, but openness and cooperation.”

A Financial Times reporter raised a hand: “Madam President, does this imply the failure of the European Union?”

Ursula was silent for a long time, then said: “This is a wake-up call for the EU. We have heard it; let us hope it is not too late.”

The same day, in Vestager’s office.

On the third floor, in an office that had shrunk by two-thirds. Outside the window was the winter scenery of Brussels—a gray sky, bare elm trees, and in the distance, the glass curtain wall of Xingchen’s European headquarters reflecting the harsh sunlight.

Vestager sat alone at her desk, which was covered with printouts of the five nations' joint statement and the records of yesterday's vote. She picked up the phone, wanting to call Washington. Her finger hovered over the buttons, hesitating.

Call whom? The U.S. Trade Representative? The White House? The Pentagon? What could they do? Impose more tariffs? Sanction the five nations? It was impossible. America needed Europe just as Europe once needed America. But now, Europe had another choice.

She put the phone down.

Picked it up again.

Put it down again.

Finally, she pushed the phone aside, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the ceiling. The light was blinding; she closed her eyes and murmured, “Was I wrong?”

No one answered.

Outside, the wind had stopped. The winter night in Brussels was as silent as a grave.

The next morning, global media.

The front page of the Financial Times, in bold black headline:

EU Split: Five Nations Bypass Brussels to Sign Bilateral Agreements with Xingchen

The front page of Le Monde:

Merkel: The Core of Europe Does Not Need Brussels' Approval

The cover of The Economist featured a striking image—on the blue background of the EU flag, six of the twelve gold stars had been replaced by the silver star logo of Xingchen Technology. The headline was only one line:

Europe is Dead, Long Live Europe

The first paragraph of the cover article read: “On December 11, 2020, the European Union is no longer the sole spokesperson for Europe. Five countries have declared through their actions: the bureaucrats of Brussels can no longer represent the reality of Europe. A new Europe is being born—not centered in Brussels, but with Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid, and Amsterdam as its fulcrums. This Europe chooses cooperation with Xingchen, not confrontation.”

Xingchen Technology Headquarters, thirty-eighth floor. Su Chen sat in his office, and on the television screen in front of him, CNN was broadcasting news of the five nations signing the agreements. On the screen, Merkel and Macron were shaking hands, with the EU flag and the Xingchen logo hanging side-by-side in the background.

Lin Wan stood to the side, holding a tablet and looking at the news from Europe: “President Su, the five nations have signed. Brussels couldn't stop them.”

Su Chen picked up his teacup and took a sip: “It was expected. Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain account for seventy percent of the EU's GDP. They represent Europe, not Brussels.”

Lin Wan asked: “So, what's next?”

Su Chen put down his teacup and looked out the window. On the waters of Shenzhen Bay, the light shimmered, and a cargo ship slowly passed by, its containers printed with the ‘Xingchen Shipping’ logo.

“Next, let them run on their own. We only provide the technology.” He paused, “Europe's problem isn't a lack of technology; it's a lack of autonomy. We help them gain autonomy, and they will naturally stand on our side.”

Lin Wan said thoughtfully: “And what about Vestager?”

Su Chen shook his head: “Vestager is no longer important. She is just one person; she cannot stop the wheels of history. Europe's awakening is not something she alone can prevent.”

Outside the window, the sunlight in Shenzhen was warm and bright. The Hong Kong skyline in the distance was faintly visible through the thin mist, and a speedboat carved a white wake across the sea.

Su Chen said softly: “The European Union will still exist, but it is no longer the center of Europe. The Europe of the future is the Europe of the five nations—the Europe of Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. And Xingchen will be their most important partner.”

He stood up and walked to the window: “From today on, the gates of Europe are completely open.”

Lin Wan looked at his back and said nothing.

Outside the window, the sun was just right, and the sea and sky were the same color.