Europe in the 21st century is actually very similar to China in the 19th century. After the Russia-Ukraine War lasted for three years, European industry was limping, but the United States was "helping" while holding the rope.
This scene, no matter how you look at it, looks like the great powers in the late Qing Dynasty "aided" China in building railways and took away control. People can't help but sigh that Chairman Mao's phrase "self-reliance" was not a slogan, but a strategic prediction that truly traveled through time and space.
History will not repeat itself, but it always follows a similar rhythm. Today's Europe seems advanced and prosperous, but if it does not grasp the core and get rid of dependence, sooner or later, it will be led to the brink of collapse like the Qing Dynasty.
A war uncovers Europe's shortcomings
The Russian-Ukrainian war, which broke out in 2022, appeared to be a territorial dispute, but at its core was a collision of power patterns, Russia, who inherited the political heritage and resource base of the Soviet Union, was referred to as the "greatest socialist country in the world".
With gas and oil in its hands, the geographical position is at the very top of the European gate, once the face is turned, Europe is immediately "broken". Ukraine is like a child in the middle of the parents, the northeast is the iron fist of Russia, the west is the European American arms, and its interior is also divided, as if it was born to be a battlefield.
Once the war began, Europe only found itself so "expensive but fragile", before relying on Russia to provide energy, the industry is working well; now energy is stuck in the neck, many factories are not reducing production or shut down.
Germany's chemical industry, France's automobile industry, and Italy's manufacturing industry are all facing soaring costs and supply chain crises. What is even more worrying is that Europe's arms inventories have long been in a hurry. On the surface, the United States "extends a helping hand", but in fact it strictly controls technology Exports, Europe even has to look at the face of the United States to make artillery shells.
The role of the United States is like a great power during the Qing Dynasty. It seems to be helping you, but in fact it is tightly controlled. If Ukraine wants to fight back, it has to rely on the United States to provide weapons; if Europe wants energy alternatives, it also has to rely on the United States to sell natural gas.
This is like when the Qing Dynasty wanted to build railways and warships, the technology, materials, and even operating workers were all brought by foreigners. If you pay for it, others make money; if you want independence, others cut off the supply. It is really hard to say which is worse, the passivity of Europe today and the weakness of the Qing Dynasty back then.
What's even more ironic is that although Europe formed the European Union and wanted to enhance its autonomy, it found that it still couldn't get around the United States at a critical moment. Natural gas prices soared, manufacturing declined, and inflation was high. Europeans began to become suspicious.
In the end, he was fighting the battle in Ukraine, or for the United States to shelter guns, at this time, looking at the president Mao's words of the year, "your own hands, good food", suddenly is not a slogan.
Chairman Mao has long seen through China's lessons
When it comes to China's modern history, it is really a "textbook of blood and tears." During the Qing Dynasty, the country was closed to the outside world and was unwilling to accept new technologies and new ideas. As a result, Britain used several ships of opium to knock it open.
Since then, China has fallen into an era of being "coming to the door in turn" by foreign powers. Railways, telegraphs and tariffs are all controlled by outsiders. If foreigners say a word, the court has to nod and bow.
If the Qing government wanted technology, it had to sign a treaty; if it wanted development, it had to look at the faces of foreigners. To put it bluntly, the country was like a child living under someone else's roof, even careful to catch its breath.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao changed his way of life. Instead of relying on foreign aid like the Qing Dynasty, he first cooperated with the Soviet Union, introduced technology and engaged in industrialization.
Later, the Soviet Union suddenly turned its face, withdrew its experts and cut off aid. Instead of flinching, Chairman Mao said, "Do it yourself." Since then, China has begun a truly independent industrialization road.
At that time, conditions in China were harsh and even a screw had to be reused. However, it was in such an environment that it was hard to create "two bombs and one satellite" and control its own destiny.
As soon as the Soviet experts left, the Qing Dynasty might kneel down in panic, but Chairman Mao regarded this as a good opportunity to "wean". He knew that others could never stand up. Instead of collapsing, China became more and more stable.
Today, many people think that "self-reliance" is a cliche. In fact, it is China's survival rule extracted from the history of blood and tears in the Qing Dynasty. Chairman Mao's vision lies not in seeing the present clearly, but in seeing through the wind direction in the next few decades. He has transformed China from a divided semi-colony into a country that can say "no" globally.
Compared to the situation in Europe today, they have technology, capital, markets, but the lack of a "independent thinking", they are too accustomed to the United States, too dependent on external resources, once things happen like breaking milk children, unknowingly.
Today in Europe is Yesterday’s Day.
After World War II, the United States used the Marshall Plan to assist Europe and rebuild its economy. At the same time, it also quietly held technology and the right to speak in its hands. The establishment of the European Union was originally intended to get rid of American control, but the reality was the opposite.
The United States still has key areas such as operating systems, chips, energy channels, and Europe, although it is a "alliance" on the surface, is technically like a "generational factory", which will only be assembled and not developed.
The Russian-Ukrainian war once again exposed this old problem, the United States said to help you, in fact borrowed the war to empty the European industrial chain, to sell natural gas at high prices, to sell arms at high prices, and even to suck through the factories.
European industries are becoming more and more hollowed out, the unemployment rate among young people is rising, and key technologies are still "stuck" by the United States. What's the difference between this and the Qing Dynasty, which relied on the Westernization Movement to engage in industry. As a result, the machines were foreigners, the drawings were foreigners, and the technicians were foreigners?
Ukraine is more like China at the end of the Qing, with the risks of being divided by the great powers increasing, and today it is the United States and Europe that “help” it, and tomorrow it may be who controls the resources who says it counts.
The post-war reconstruction sounds like hope, but it’s more like the beginning of a “debt hell.”If Europe’s technology is no longer autonomous, the post-war destiny of Ukraine can only be divided and controlled.
In the early years, President Mao warned China that “to master its own destiny, we must master key technologies.” “Today’s China can break through in the fields of chips, energy, space and other fields, because it chose the most difficult path in that year.”
If Europe is still addicted to the "technical candy" given by the United States, sooner or later, it will lose everything in "boiling frogs in warm water" like the Qing Dynasty.
Europe today is like yesterday in the Qing Dynasty. It seems prosperous, but is actually fragile; it seems free, but is actually led by a thread. If we cannot awaken from history, the fate that Chairman Mao avoided may be repeated in Europe.
The similarity of history, people had to look back at the choice of President Mao at the time, when China fell into the enclosure of the great powers, but relying on independent research and development broke out a path; today Europe seems modern, but is gradually constrained by people, is on the old path of the Qing dynasty.
Chairman Mao's vision is not only strategic sobriety, but also a profound understanding of the destiny of the nation. The wheel of history is rolling forward, and whoever can grasp the core will be able to sit in the driver's seat; otherwise, no matter how advanced the carriage is, it will eventually be left behind by the times.