On July 13, 2026, the Chinese-language website of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, citing an analysis article from the German newspaper Tagesspiegel, introduced the phenomenon of Chinese-made air conditioners achieving record sales amidst Europe's extreme heat, and the respective claims made by both China and Europe regarding it. The article introduced that due to the ongoing heatwave in Europe, in Germany too, demand for air conditioners continues to break previous records, and products from Chinese manufacturers are particularly popular due to their low prices. This special demand has led Midea (Midea), headquartered in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, to forecast a 20% increase in sales revenue for April-June this year compared to the same period last year, and Haier (Haier) from Qingdao City, Shandong Province, is also expecting double-digit revenue growth. Furthermore, it mentioned that Chinese state media are linking this phenomenon to the context of China-Europe trade friction. In addition to Xinhua reporting "Heatwave in Europe, Chinese Air Conditioners Immensely Popular," the People's Daily argued that "the strong sales of Chinese-made air conditioners underscore the 'simple fact' that economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe is inherently mutually beneficial." The article, on the other hand, pointed out that concerns are being raised from the European side. European politicians are not only concerned about air conditioners, but also that China's trade surplus with Europe has reached approximately $1 billion (about 162 billion yen) per day, and explained that a wide range of industries, including automotive, machinery, chemicals, and aviation, are being affected. Furthermore, the EU claims that Chinese government subsidies are leading to overcapacity, and that the surplus is flowing into the European market. China, on the other hand, refutes this, stating that product competitiveness and consumer support are the reasons for strong sales, and reported that negotiations between the two sides are at a standstill. According to the article, as a countermeasure to the so-called "China Shock 2.0," representatives from China and Europe are scheduled to negotiate specific measures in October this year, and the first phase will involve establishing a monitoring mechanism for trade flows. However, the EU reportedly does not desire a full-scale tariff war like that of President Trump. In addition, the article also introduced the spread of an AI-generated image on Chinese social media showing European Commission President von der Leyen enjoying the cool breeze of a Midea air conditioner in her office, and reported on many Europeans installing air conditioners for the first time in their lives and expressing joy. Chinese netizens commented that 'it's like when our ancestors first saw a car.' Data from China's National Bureau of Statistics indicates that Chinese households own an average of 1.5 air conditioners, and it conveyed that not a few Chinese people find it puzzling to see Europeans sweating profusely in the scorching heat. (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)