Beijing Review – Vol69 No10 5 March 2026 – Beijing Review

global influence and the parallel expan- sion of China’s international role are often explained in ideological or moral terms. These explanations miss the point. The decisive factors are structural: economic gravity, policy predictability and the chang- ing behavior of advanced industrial states confronted with uncertainty. The visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to China on February 25-26 illustrates these dynamics with particular clarity.

For more than 70 years, American leadership rested on a combination of material power and political loyalty. Allies accepted U.S. dominance not only because of its military and financial strength, but because Washington was perceived as predictable and broadly committed to shared prosperity. That balance has weakened. Under the “America First” doctrine, U.S. power is in- creasingly exercised through tariffs, sanctions and direct pressure—even on allies. This approach demonstrates strength, but it undermines trust. A clear choice Niccolò Machiavelli argued that fear may sub- stitute for love when both cannot be secured.

Yet fear produces obedience, not loyalty. In a global- multiple centers of growth, obedience is fragile. Germany’s engagement with China reflects this reality. Berlin remains deeply embedded in the transatlantic alliance, but it is also confront- ing hard economic facts. The United States is Germany’s largest single-country export market, absorbing roughly 10 percent of German exports, while China accounts for about 7-8 percent.

However, China has been Germany’s largest trading partner for eight consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding 251 billion euros ($296 billion) annually. German industry is particularly exposed. Nearly 40 percent of Volkswagen’s global sales, one third of BMW’s and more than 35 percent of Mercedes- Benz’s are generated in China. BASF is investing over 10 billion euros ($11.8 billion) in a new integrated chemical complex in Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province, its largest sin- Understanding Europe’s Re-Engagement With China By Djoomart Otorbaev gle foreign investment project.

12 Applause and Appeal Milano Cortina 2026, where ice met ambition and snow carried dreams 16 The Cold Crush China is falling in love with winter, one slope at a time FEATURES 7DULII:DU%DFNÀUHV Tough consequences for American consumers 36 Holiday Tradition 2.0 High-end consumption during the Spring Festival 40 The Rural Blueprint National priorities for agricultural and rural development in 2026 42 Unearthing the Past Recent breakthroughs are rewriting ancient history CULTURE 46 Holiday Heritage and Horse-Themed Handicrafts A New Year exhibit at the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum FORUM 48 ‘Thanks, but No Thanks’: Why China’s Internet Is Arguing About Politeness Toward AI Cover Photo: Freestyle skier Wang Xindi during the men’s aerials final of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, on February 20 (XINHUA) http://www.bjreview.com 2 BEIJING REVIEW MARCH 5, 2026 EDITOR’S DESK Ұ܉؀֧ 䩭Ѕм֔ ҹоؗ тҲѨ׭঵ Ұފ؀֧ 䩭Ѕм֔ ҹ঵Ѥರت৚ЅК䩛ܚߟرۏघ䩜 оؗ ؀֧ 䩭Ѕм֔ ҹ঵Ѥರت৚ЅК䩛ܚߟرۏघ䩜 сժ䩭ܚߟص՝ڵ߇ښݚນϽঅً ௏൜䩭 ൜ణϿ䩭ొ ๢ᇷឡข࠭࠭ ҙ౨ѕӊᎂ୐߲ ҹ᭏ ൜ణϿҰڗ䩭ొ ๢ Ұ൜䩭☐୺ ւ൜ॣ ӈҦ䩭   тҲחӈҦ䩭   ୅ા䩭ܚߟܗ࠾୅ાϩࡳԍޅ ܚߟرۏ߭ ҹؗ ёҷ׈,661  мֵ ࢅϣۂ۟ оؗ ׉ً 䩭&1*௏тڊً 䩭 ܲ ݍܙН࢙ ً ܚߟص׈ᑂ࢙֭ࠪ ҷً мֵ ജତ٣䩭Ϫھ෡ ׄ CHINA……RMB9.00 U.S.A…….USD1.70 AUSTRALIA……AUD3.00 UK……GBP1.20 CANADA……CAD2.60 SWITZERLAND……CHF2.60 JAPAN……JPY188 EUROPE……EUR1.90 TÜRKIYE……TRY5.00 HK……HKD9.30 NEPAL……RS40 WRITE TO US Please provide your name and address along with your submissions.

Submissions may be edited. Send an e-mail: editorsoffi[email protected] A News Weekly Magazine Published Since 1958 President: Xin Feng Associate Editor in Chief: Liu Yunyun Vice Presidents: He Peng, Gao Dingbo, Yu Shujun Program Supervisor: Zeng Wenhui Executive Editor: Yan Wei Production Director: Yao Bin Editors: Wang Hairong, Zhang Shasha, Lu Yan Researcher: Lan Xinzhen Editorial Consultants: Elsbeth van Paridon, G.P. Wilson Reporters: Ji Jing, Kang Caiqi, Li Qing, Li Wenhan, Li Xiaoyang, Liang Xiao, Ma Miaomiao, Pan Xiaoqiao, Peng Jiawei, Tao Xing, Tao Zihui, Wang Jun, Wang Ruohan, Yuan Yuan, Zhang Yage Photographer: Wei Yao Art: Li Shigong Design Director: Wang Yajuan Chief Designer: Cui Xiaodong Designer: Wang Boyan Editorial Administrator: Zeng Wenhui Planning Director: Xu Bei Deputy Planning Director: Li Nan World News Director: Ding Ying Director of Digital Media: Li Fangfang Director of Strategic Research: Zan Jifang Deputy Director of Strategic Research: Lu Ling Administration: Zhang Yajie International Cooperation: Sun Xuan Legal Counsel: Yue Cheng North America Bureau (New York City) Chief: Yu Shujun Executive Assistant: Zhao Wei Tel/Fax: 1-201-792-0334 E-mail: [email protected] Latin America Bureau (Mexico City) Chief: Miao Ye Tel: 52-55-55127271 Fax: 52-55-55332027 E-mail: [email protected] 3HUX2IßFH /LPD Chief: Meng Kexin Tel: 0051-959212702 E-mail: [email protected] *HQHUDO(GLWRULDO2IßFH Tel: 86-10-68996252 Fax: 86-10-68326628 Editorial Desk Tel: 86-10-68996250 Partnerships Tel: 86-10-68995807 E-mail: [email protected] Distribution Tel: 86-10-68310644 E-mail: [email protected] Published every Thursday by CICG Center for Americas, 24 Baiwanzhuang Lu, Beijing 100037, China Overseas Distributor: China International Book Trading Corporation, P. O.

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