301: Chapter 301 The Division of Brussels

Mornings in Brussels are always shrouded in a layer of grey mist.

In front of the European Union headquarters council building, protesters' placards fluttered in the morning breeze.

Some held signs saying "Don't let America command Europe," while others held "Sanctioning Xingchen Technology = Suicide."

Several police cars were parked on the side of the road, and the police leaned lazily against the car doors, long accustomed to these demonstrators.

Inside the building, the atmosphere was completely different.

On the vaulted ceiling of the council hall, crystal chandeliers refracted fragments of light.

Around the circular long table, leaders from twenty-seven countries sat in a circle, with their respective country names marked on the nameplates in front of them.

Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands—the industrial powerhouses of Western Europe.

Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia—the Visegrád Group.

The Baltic states, Nordic countries, and Southern European countries.

Twenty-seven sets of interests, twenty-seven different agendas.

But today, there was someone who shouldn't have been there, sitting in the observer's seat.

John Davis, the United States Ambassador to the European Union.

He was fifty-eight years old, his silver-grey hair perfectly groomed, his dark blue suit impeccably tailored, and his face wore the standard smile of a professional diplomat.

But those who knew him understood that behind that smile was a blade ready to be drawn at any moment.

European Council President Charles Michel tapped the gavel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there is only one topic for today's emergency summit: how to respond to the rise of Xingchen Technology. The American side hopes we will adopt collective sanctions."

He looked toward Davis.

Davis stood up and walked to the podium. His pace was steady, each step landing precisely, like a soldier in a military parade.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his tone even but carrying an unquestionable power, "Xingchen Technology is using low-cost technology and political bundling to dismantle our industrial foundation.

They have already signed a hundred-billion-dollar agreement with Russia, reached arms sales contracts with Iran, and are now extending their reach into Southeast Asia.

The United States has already imposed the strictest sanctions in history. We expect our European allies to make the same choice."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across every face at the circular table.

"This is not a suggestion. This is an invitation—an invitation for you to join the ranks of those maintaining the free world order."

The Prime Minister of Poland was the first to raise his hand.

"We support this," he said, his voice loud. "Russia has already leaned toward Xingchen Technology, and Europe must unite. If Xingchen Technology's technology is used for military purposes, it threatens the security of all of Europe."

The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic nodded in agreement: "Poland is right. We cannot sacrifice long-term security for short-term economic interests."

The Prime Minister of Hungary hesitated for a moment, but eventually also raised his hand.

The three Baltic states followed suit.

The corners of Davis's mouth curled up slightly.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not raise her hand.

She stood up slowly.

She was sixty-five, with greying hair, wearing a dark blue suit jacket. She did not look at Davis, but instead looked at the French President Emmanuel Rousseau beside her.

Rousseau nodded slightly.

Merkel walked to the podium and stood still.

"Everyone, before I state my position, I would like to ask you all to look at a set of data."

She signaled to her assistant. The big screen lit up.

The correlation between the German automotive industry and Xingchen Technology over the next two years:

Power battery dependency: 85% of German electric vehicles use spark super energy batteries or technology licensed by Xingchen Technology.

AI autonomous driving system: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, and Volkswagen ID series are all equipped with Xingchen Technology's AI infrastructure.

chip supply: 30% of automotive-grade chips come from spark super energy or production lines authorized by spark super energy.

If we lose Xingchen Technology:

Loss in production value: 200 billion euros (the annual output value of the German automotive industry is approximately 450 billion euros).

Layoffs: 500,000 people (automotive and related industries).

Technological regression: at least 5 years.

Merkel closed the folder and looked at Davis.

"Mr. Ambassador, the United States sanctions Xingchen Technology because you have Intel, you have Tesla, and you have Google. We do not."

Her voice was calm, but every word was like a nail driven into wood.

"Our automotive industry is the livelihood of 8 million German families. 8 million, not 80 thousand, not 800 thousand, but 8 million."

She turned to the leaders of the various countries.

"Whoever supports sanctions, please tell me first: is your country prepared to lose that many jobs? Poland, what is the output value of your automotive industry? Czech Republic, where does your battery technology come from? Baltic states, who trains your AI talent?"

The conference room fell silent.

Those who had just raised their hands began to look down at their own nameplates.

At this moment, someone stood up.

European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vesta.

She was Danish, fifty-five years old, her blonde hair meticulously combed back, wearing rimless glasses. Over the past five years, she has been known as the "Iron Lady of Tech," having made Google pay a 9 billion euro fine and Apple pay 13 billion euros in back taxes.

She walked to the podium and stood next to Merkel.

"Madam Chancellor, I understand Germany's difficulties," her voice was sharp, like a scalpel cutting across glass. "But precisely because of this, we need European technological sovereignty. We cannot allow key industries to depend on a foreign enterprise that is not regulated by the European Union. If we don't set limits today, tomorrow we will lose our voice forever."

Merkel turned around and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Margrethe, can you provide German car companies with batteries of equal performance?"

Vesta opened her mouth but did not answer.

"Can you build a 14-nanometer chip production line within three years?"

Vesta's lips moved, but she still did not answer.

"Can you make European AI catch up to the level of Xingchen Technology?"

Vesta fell silent.

Merkel did not continue to press. She just looked at her quietly, waiting for her to answer.

Vesta's face turned pale.

French President Emmanuel Rousseau stood up.

He was fifty-five, tall and slender, wearing an impeccably tailored dark grey suit. He walked to the podium and stood next to Merkel.

"Margrethe, your ideal of 'technological sovereignty' is very nice," his voice was gentle but carried an unquestionable power, "but the reality is—Europe does not have the technology of Xingchen Technology. We have two choices: sanction them and fall five years behind, or cooperate and participate in setting the rules."

He paused.

"I choose the latter."

The Prime Minister of Italy stood up: "Italy also chooses the latter."

The Prime Minister of Spain stood up: "Spain as well."

The Prime Minister of the Netherlands stood up: "The Netherlands joins."

Vesta's face turned from pale to livid.

Davis stood up.

His smile disappeared.

"If Europe chooses to cooperate with Xingchen Technology, the United States will re-evaluate its trade relationship with Europe."

Merkel looked him straight in the eye.

"Mr. Ambassador, is this a threat?"

"This is a fact."

Merkel took a step forward, only two meters away from him.

"Then I will also tell you a fact—when the United States sanctioned Huawei, European companies lost tens of billions. When the United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act, European companies were excluded from subsidies. Now, you want us to sacrifice our own livelihoods for American hegemony?"

She raised her hand and pointed her finger toward Davis's chest.

"Germany's livelihood is something Germans will hold themselves."

Scattered applause rang out in the conference hall.

Davis's face was livid. He turned and left the conference hall.

The sound of his leather shoes tapping on the floor was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

At 2:00 PM, after the emergency closed-door meeting, the European Union released a vaguely worded statement:

"The European Union has noted the expansion of Xingchen Technology in the global market and will continue to monitor whether its competitive behavior complies with European Union rules. Member states may decide for themselves on cooperation with third-country enterprises, provided they comply with European Union law."

Translated into plain language: publicly scold them a couple of times, privately do whatever you want.

Vesta stood in the empty conference hall, looking at the statement text on the big screen.

Her assistant walked over and said cautiously: "Commissioner, it's time for you to leave. The reporters are waiting outside."

Vesta did not move.

She looked at those empty seats—seats that had just been filled by the leaders of twenty-seven countries, now leaving only rows of empty chairs.

"They don't understand," she murmured, "they don't understand anything."

She took out her phone and posted a tweet:

"Today, Europe chose short-term interests and abandoned long-term sovereignty. History will judge us."

Three hours later, this tweet was flooded with replies by German netizens.

The most popular reply was: "History will judge you, bureaucrat who doesn't understand industry!"