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37
Amid heatwaves, Europeans turn to prized Chinese air-conditioner (www.bbc.com)
submitted 5 days ago by schizoidman@lemmy.zip to c/europe@feddit.org
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[–] tardigrade@scribe.disroot.org 9 points 5 days ago (2 children)

It's just another cheap propaganda by the party-state as China mocks Europe over air con,

... Chinese state media used the figures [of sold air cons to Europe] to attack Brussels’ plans for tariffs, which are aimed at shielding European industries, such as cars or solar panels, against cut-price Chinese imports.

Beijing heavily subsidises its factories, encouraging them to produce more than China’s own market can absorb. The surplus is exported at rock-bottom prices, putting European manufacturers in jeopardy.

The Chinese reports said European consumers’ appetite for cheap Chinese air con showed that Beijing’s industrial machine was a benefit to Europe, not a threat.

This narrative is also spread on social media and conveyed even by some mainstream media.

For OP it is apparently a favorite propaganda story as they have been frequently posting this "news" also here in this community:

Surging demand for Chinese air-conditioners amid record heatwave in Europe - (17 days ago)

Europe wants to rebalance trade with Beijing, but can't quit Chinese air conditioners - (14 days ago)

This is a complete nothing burger, however.

[–] setsubyou@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

It’s a BBC article written by a Singaporean, how do you make the jump to Chinese propaganda?

[–] tardigrade@scribe.disroot.org -2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Please read my comment.

[–] setsubyou@lemmy.world 11 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I read it and I think you’re confusing reality you don’t like with propaganda.

First off, it’s factual that air conditioners manufactured in Europe are generally split devices that need drilling (which anyone who rents can’t do, not just people who live in historic buildings who the article focuses on), and they also require installation by a certified expert (limits what brand you can actually buy at your location).

It’s also factual that people are buying more of them. I want to say I’ve never seen as many windows covered in plastic with a hose sticking out as this summer, and that all my neighbors are either talking about getting AC or smug about already having AC (I live in a building built less than 10 years ago and many of us have split devices), but it’s actually a well-documented trend in the last few years, not just now.

It’s also factual that Midea’s reported sales are surging and it’s factual that they have a large market share in Europe, nearly 30% here in Germany. That this brand appears often is due to them having a market share this large in the residential segment. Gree is larger worldwide but e.g. in Germany only has less than 5% in the residential segment.

What I’m getting at is that it’s true that there is a lot of advertising right now for their portable split device, but that they’re one of the biggest names in Europe in the residential market is not a new development at all. There is no sudden push from China.

Outside their share of the market, for portable devices it’s mostly Chinese manufactured devices too. Probably because those need to be cheap.

For split devices, the big names that are not Chinese are Japanese (Daikin and Mitsubishi). For some reason these Japanese brands are the big ones to go to if you want manufactured in Europe. I remember when we got our current AC there was a German brand we could have gotten, but they manufacture in China… in “partnership” with Midea. We went with Daikin, although it wasn’t for this reason.

So this is the reality. The worldwide market leader is Chinese (Gree). The market in countries like Germany is dominated by Chinese manufactured devices on the lower end (mostly Midea) and other countries only play a role on the higher end, but even then it’s >70% Asian.

Europe simply is not prepared to deal with rising temperatures by itself, and it follows that for every heat wave in the future, we can expect more articles about Chinese AC manufacturers growing their businesses in Europe. It’s certainly convenient for China, but it’s also just the reality we have.

[–] tardigrade@scribe.disroot.org -3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This narrative has been spread in Chinese state-media and then across China's social media. Nothing there happens organically. This is a Chinese state-controlled propaganda campaign as Beijing just exploits what they can.

[–] setsubyou@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

That Chinese people like it doesn’t make it less true and calling it propaganda won’t fix your problem.

You have two options if you want to improve the situation:

  • start a company that makes cheap AC units that are compatible with a market where most people rent and can’t install a device permanently, and then manufacture them in Europe instead of partnering with Midea like most existing brands do
  • lobby for a right to AC. This could push people toward split devices, where the market is less reliant on China
[–] tardigrade@scribe.disroot.org -3 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

That Chinese people like it ...

What Chinese people post in the country's social media sphere is highly censored. It has nothing to do with reality.

Addition as I just stumbled upon this disgusting propaganda stuff spread by Chinese state media (and then by social media, in China as well as in the West)

Philippines condemns China for ‘racist’ AI video depicting Filipinos as monkeys

The Philippines has condemned China’s state-run China Daily for broadcasting an AI-generated video depicting Filipinos as monkeys, calling the imagery “racist”, "offensive”, and “distressing” ...

The monkey in the China Daily video is thrown into the sea and blasted with water cannons after it pulls out a ​sheet of lyrics bearing the words "South China Sea arbitration award". Manila labelled the video “contemptible propaganda” and has demanded that the video be taken down immediately ...

This comes straight from one of the Chinese Communist Party's media outlets.

[–] FleetwoodLinux@lemmy.zip 5 points 5 days ago

Not good but what the hell does this have to do with what the rest of this thread was about? Seems to me like you want to just deflect away from being wrong

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 2 points 5 days ago

Holy anti-Chinese cope.

PS: Nothing you said actually backs up your argument.

[–] Jajcus@sh.itjust.works 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Why posting an ad here?

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Ah, yes, an ad by checks notes BBC.

[–] Jajcus@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

Indeed, that is quite sad.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Same cost as an actual split installed.

The only benefit is for rental units without AC installed by the landlord.

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 4 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Which is really big because most of Europe has a housing crisis going on and home ownership rates are in the toilet.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Point.

But my emphasis was that it seemed to be highly priced (taking advantage of this fact in housing)

[–] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 2 points 5 days ago

Yeah that makes sense. Another way capitalism screws us over, I guess.