Summary of the Key Points
This article uses the "Six Great Sects" from Jin Yong's martial arts novels (such as Shaolin and Emei in *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*) as a metaphor for the European Union, pointing out that the EU behaves similarly to these sects: it puts on a show together but lacks real strength, always claims to represent "the righteous path" yet has numerous internal problems, and frequently tries to pin its failures on China (the "martial arts masters"). The author believes that the EU's initiation of Trade War 2.0 is an overestimation of its capabilities, and that its trade deficit is due to its own policy mistakes (such as the environmental policies of the Green Party and the lack of accountability for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline), rather than China. The article predicts that the EU will end up in a similar fiasco as the Six Great Sects, retreating in defeat.
1. The EU = the "Six Great Sects" in Jin Yong's Stories: Putting on a Show but Lacking Substance
The main similarities between the EU and these martial arts sects are threefold:
1. Need to Band Together: Individual countries are weak; for example, Lithuania is considered insignificant, and Germany and France are not a match for China. Therefore, they must unite for a sense of security, just as the Six Great Sects had to attack together to dare to confront Mount Guangming.
2. Loving to Claim Moral High Ground: The EU always presents itself as a representative of "freedom and democracy," similar to how the sects proclaim themselves as the "righteous path" in the martial arts world, but they have many internal issues—such as the Green Party's chaotic environmental policies and the lack of consistency among member states.
3. Failing miserably When Trying to Outsmart China: The Six Great Sects were easily defeated by Zhang Wuji during their attack on the Ming Sect and were even captured by the imperial court. The EU has not gained any advantage in its previous trade disputes with China, and the author predicts that Trade War 2.0 will only result in even worse outcomes.
2. The True Strength of the EU: A Weak Alliance, No Match for a Single Chinese Province
The article uses data to expose the EU's illusion of being a powerful entity:
- Europe covers an area of over 10 million square kilometers (China has 9.6 million), with a population of 1 billion (China’s is 1.4 billion), but its countries are scattered like individual cookies.
- In terms of GDP, Guangdong Province in China could match Russia (the fifth-largest EU country) on a per-capita basis, and Russia is even at an advantage in its conflict with Ukraine, which is supported by the EU.
- China has more than ten provinces with GDPs exceeding 5 trillion yuan (such as Jiangsu and Shandong), and it has a unified organization and culture. In contrast, the EU consists of countries with their own agendas, similar to how the Seven Masters of Wudang are all top-tier fighters, while most of the second-generation disciples of the Six Great Sects are weak.
3. The Responsibility for the Trade Deficit: It's Their Own Fault, Not China's
The EU blames China for its large trade deficit, but the author believes the reasons lie within the EU:
1. The Green Party's Missteps: Constantly shutting down factories and sabotaging power plants (e.g., through excessive environmental regulations) have led to rising energy costs and decreased competitiveness in industries.
2. Silence After the Nord Stream Sabotage: The EU did nothing when Russia was attacked for the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipeline, resulting in higher energy prices.
3. Inability to Produce Alternatives: China controls 90% of the EU's photovoltaic market, and the EU cannot produce these components on its own yet blames China for "dumping" at low prices.
4. The Fate of Trade War 2.0: A Certain Disaster Like That of the Six Great Sects
The author draws a parallel with the ending of *The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber*:
- The Six Great Sects were defeated by Zhang Wuji and even captured after their attack on Mount Guangming. The EU will face similar consequences from Trade War 2.0: it will struggle to obtain cheap photovoltaic components, experience higher inflation, and its industries will weaken further.
- Ironically, characters like Zhao Min (representing the imperial court) and Zhou Zhiruo (the leader of Emei) in the novel eventually join Zhang Wuji, suggesting that EU countries may end up cooperating with China, leaving the remaining members to watch helplessly.
5. The EU's Misunderstanding of Its Own Strength: Overestimating Its Abilities
The article highlights the core problem with the EU: it believes itself to be a "martial arts alliance leader" despite its declining strength. It’s like a fifty-year-old woman who dreams of being loved by a prince; the EU, with its failing industries and internal divisions, is just making a fool of itself, much like Master Ningde who would rather die than accept Zhang Wuji’s help, preferring to maintain her pride at the cost of suffering.
This article uses martial arts metaphors to explain the EU's issues in an easy-to-understand way, concluding that the EU should stop blaming China and focus on resolving its own problems.