Cooler heads in Europe know China is a partner

This sweltering European summer has spawned a travel trend. Blistering 40 C heatwaves are frying Mediterranean coasts, sending overheated Europeans northward to Oslo and Dublin in search of relief. But some savvy travelers have skipped the expensive Nordic fix. They are chasing a more affordable "coolcation" halfway across the globe — in China.

It is a quiet, people-powered "rebellion" against the political absurdity in Brussels' increasingly restrictive policy against China. While some European politicians grandstand about Chinese "overcapacity", "trade imbalances", "currency manipulation" and "subsidy", and threaten tariffs, ordinary Europeans are voting with their passports. They are flocking to China's 22 C mountain retreats, reveling in "air-conditioning freedom" that remains a luxury across much of Europe, and discovering a country far more welcoming than some Western political rhetoric admits.

The numbers tell a compelling story. European travelers account for 30 percent of China's top 20 inbound tourist sources this summer, with bookings surging 275 percent year-over-year on some platforms. Visitors from France, the United Kingdom and Germany lead the rush, with a 150 percent spike in bookings over the same season last year.

This travel frenzy reflects two of China's unsung strengths: geological blessing and infrastructural mastery. From Zhangjiajie's misty 22 C peaks to Changbai Mountain's forested sanctuaries and Kunming's perennial spring weather, China offers a range of summer escapes. Behind this comfort lies a staggering energy backbone: 10 trillion kilowatt-hours of annual electricity consumption, 3.89 billion kilowatts of power capacity — with 60 percent renewable energy — and a network of ultra-high-voltage grids that delivers stable electricity supply nationwide even amid extreme weather.

The irony is that while European tourists are coming to China, some of their politicians back home are busy imposing sanctions whining about the "China threat". One French advisor proposed a 30 percent tariff on all Chinese imports earlier this year, even though it would raise the prices of the very products that are keeping Europeans safe in the scorching summer. A portable Chinese air conditioner originally priced at 900 euros ($1,024) is now reselling for over 2,600 euros — and still flying off shelves.

The real paradox is the divergence in political and public opinion about China in Europe. A recent Pew Research Center poll has found that 25 out of 36 surveyed countries hold warmer views of China than the United States — a historical first. Global respondents see China as a less meddlesome major country, with steadily rising favorability across major European nations such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, France, the United Kingdom and Germany. Even as some EU politicians stoke trade tensions, ordinary Europeans recognize China's reliability and tangible quality-of-life advantages. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy of Germany shows only one-third of Germany's lost market share is linked to Chinese exports; the rest is due to domestic incompetence. Energy prices in Europe are double or triple those in the US and regulations are burdensome. But it's easier to blame Beijing than to fix Berlin.

This is a political farce at its finest: out-of-touch politicians peddle "rivalry" while their constituents embrace partnership. Europe's heat crisis exposed its structural flaws, from fragile energy systems to a paralyzing policy gridlock. Protectionism may raise barriers, but it won't help lower temperatures. You can impose tariff on a product, but you can't place tariff on a cool breeze.

Crucially, this growing interest in China is no fleeting fad. With China's visa-free policy now covering dozens of European countries, nearly eight out of every 10 foreign visitors enter without a visa. Departure tax refunds are being upgraded.

Therefore, coolheaded cooperation should prevail over manufactured "rivalry". For Europe's China-bashing policymakers, this summer offers a refreshingly simple lesson: stop antagonizing China and start engaging it with pragmatism.