In recent weeks, Europe has experienced the worst heatwaves on record, and most households do not have air conditioning systems. Americans who live in environments with air conditioning find this situation confusing and even ridiculed.
The news headlines, not to mention online discussions, reflect this confusion: “Europeans have a different understanding of physical pain”; Europeans’ attitude towards air conditioning is “simply suicidal”; why don’t Europeans want to install air conditioning? What exactly is happening?
The Washington Post commented on July 10th that while the U.S. can barely offer solutions to ease Europe's heatwave, China offers a different approach.
As France, the UK, and Spain set temperature records in June, air conditioning brands from China have become a "life saver" on this hot continent where it is estimated that only about one-fifth of households have air conditioners. As temperatures soar to near 40°C, people across Europe are preparing for even more severe heatwaves, resulting in a surge in sales for major manufacturers such as Midea, Haier, and Gree over the past few weeks.
According to Chinese customs data, in May, China's exports of air conditioners to France, the UK, and the Netherlands increased by more than 55% year-on-year.
The beautiful PortaSplit—a popular portable air conditioner designed specifically to circumvent European regulations banning certain building renovations—is selling out quickly. Some consumers eager to buy have even created websites to monitor PortaSplit’s replenishment status in real time. The company’s regional sales director said that this product has sold over 200,000 units in Europe this year, which is twice as much as last year.
Other Chinese refrigeration products, such as ice makers, floor fans, and handheld fans, are also flooding Europe in large quantities. A Chinese merchant revealed that factories are producing fans for sale to Europe 24 hours a day, but it is still difficult to meet the demand.
Reports indicate that China views its response to European difficulties as another manifestation of national economic progress. Chinese media have described the sale of air conditioners as an “innovation in the overseas market” and a “industrial victory,” believing this helps China shed its image as a country that produces cheap, low-quality electronic products.
With its extensive supply chain system and ability to customize products according to market demand, Chinese companies have demonstrated a clear advantage, especially in an era when European manufacturers are relatively lagging behind.
The report also mentioned that this has further increased European concerns about the ongoing trade imbalance between Europe and China, as well as concerns about what may be seen as a “Second China Shock (China Shock 2.0)”.
British research analysis institutions Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Senior China Analyst Tianchen Xu said: "European manufacturers do not lack the technology for portable split air conditioners, but they lack the ability to achieve large-scale production at low costs."
However, Bijana Vankovská, a political scholar from North Macedonia and the author of a column on Observer Network, joked, "Fortunately, I live in a non-EU country in Southern Europe, where heatwaves are the norm, and air conditioners have become a part of our daily life."
She pointed out that this matter should be considered within the broader context of the EU’s crisis: energy policies are failing, social security is being reduced, and everything is moving towards militarization.
China Foreign Minister spokesperson Mao Ning stated: "Chinese-European trade is driven by market demand, shaped by economic complementarity."
Fudan University's Director of the Center for European Studies, Ding Chun, said that aside from geopolitics, trade 'is about addressing people's daily needs', and 'Chinese manufacturers have precisely achieved this'.
