Chapter 596 Did you forget something?
Within a few days, several explosive news stories shocked the world.
First, the three coastal states of Germany established an ocean exploration alliance to vigorously develop the deep sea. This is not surprising in itself, but the fact that this ocean exploration alliance chose a Chinese as its leader is intriguing.
The deep-sea exploration industry comes into contact with a lot of national-level high-tech equipment, just like the equipment on Xiao Peng's ship basically represents the highest level of China's marine technology. Germany's marine technology should not be underestimated either. For example, the technology of China's "Tianjing" dredger comes from Germany, right?
Moreover, Germany's high-tech marine research facilities are concentrated in the three states where this project is located. What is the purpose of this? Is it to disclose the technology to China?
Several countries have been arguing with each other, but the Germans are acting as if nothing has happened. They are even planning to build a "headquarters building" for them in Cuxhaven.
It's called a "building," and Xiao Peng saw photos of it. It's actually a three-story Western-style building, currently undergoing renovations and expected to open in three months.
When those countries found out that the association’s headquarters was in Cuxhaven, they argued even more fiercely!
Although Cuxhaven isn't big, it's Hamburg's gateway port. Before 1937, it belonged to Hamburg. Today, its shipbuilding industry is second to none in Europe. Setting up the association's headquarters here? Are you worried that the Chinese won't rise?
You were once part of the "Battalion Coordination Committee" and now you're part of the "Arrangement." How could you possibly do this? Don't say anything. Send someone to Vienna so we can have a proper discussion.
Now think about it, it is not easy for China to develop to this point today. From the day China was born, China has been sanctioned.
In the year China was founded, the United States took the lead and contacted 12 other countries to establish a "Coordinating Committee for Export Controls." Because its headquarters was in Paris, it was called the "Paris Coordinating Committee" or "COCOM." Later, COCOM expanded to include 17 countries.
These countries have a single purpose: to monitor each other and prevent the export of strategic materials and high technology to countries on the embargo list. This includes military weaponry, cutting-edge technology, and rare materials, among tens of thousands of other products. There are over thirty countries on the embargo list, with China second only to them. Since 1990, the number of countries on the list has dwindled, while more and more products have been opened to the market. Only their attitude toward China has remained unchanged. The number of embargoed products has only increased, not decreased.
With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, COCOM officially disbanded in 1994. Before China could even catch its breath, in July 1996, 33 countries established the Wassenaar Arrangement in Austria. Sixteen more countries joined the original 17 COCOM members, bringing the total to 33. This number later expanded to 42, including two of China's neighbors. Even Russia, which emerged after the Soviet Union's collapse, was included.
But to be honest, Japan and Korea have technology after all, so it's not surprising that they are included in the "arrangement", but India is also included!
This is a bit ridiculous. What is India blocking China for? Curry?
The sanction targets of this "arrangement" are even clearer. Although there are a lot of country names on the "arrangement" blockade list, China is ranked first and remains so to this day.
It clearly states that civilian vessels, maritime equipment, and propulsion systems are all on the control list. Navigational electronics are particularly critical. What do you mean by bringing Chinese people to Cuxhaven? Is this a sign of 'welcome to learn from you'? While the member states of the 'arrangement' have sold technology to China over the years, isn't this a bit too blatant?
So now an emergency meeting was "arranged" and the relevant German officials were called in with one purpose: to ruin this matter.
Xiao Peng hoped that they would ruin the matter as soon as possible so that he could save himself some trouble... But looking at the attitude of the Germans, Xiao Peng felt that this matter was a bit uncertain.
This news wasn't the most explosive. The most explosive news was that Wolfgang von Friedrich, Prince of Hedingen, Germany, was surprised to discover a batch of cultural relics from China while cleaning up his ancestral property! When Mr. Friedrich learned that these cultural relics came from the Old Summer Palace, he felt deeply ashamed of what his ancestors had done.
To reflect on the war and to build friendship between the two countries, Mr. Friedrich sent these artifacts to Huaxia for exhibition, with only one request: they must be exhibited exclusively in the Xiao Peng section of the Huaxia National Museum. He also considered transferring the artifacts directly to Xiao Peng after a year.
Those who heard the news were stunned: Why is it Xiao Peng again? Even a fool would know that this matter must be related to Xiao Peng. What they couldn't understand was: What exactly did Xiao Peng do to make Friedrich consider giving up such a huge fortune?
It didn't matter if they couldn't figure it out. Anyway, now Friedrich's name was instantly known around the world. He was a good friend of the Chinese people! What on earth were the Germans planning to do? Were we to become a "loving family" with the Chinese?
No one believed that Friedrich would hand over these artifacts to Xiao Peng a year later: Who would be willing to give up such a huge fortune? He was just promoting himself. Look at who doesn't know Friedrich's name now? If he really gave up such a fortune, they would all suspect Friedrich was mentally ill!
As for what Xiao Peng did? As Friedrich said, most things in this world can be solved with money, and the rest require more money.
Xiao Peng and Friedrich signed a 3.5 billion euro bet agreement: and this agreement has a limited term, which is one year.
What if Xiao Peng gave Friedrich 3.5 billion within a year? These cultural relics belong to Xiao. What if Xiao Peng didn't give him 3.5 billion after a year? Friedrich took back all the cultural relics, and Xiao Peng compensated him with 1.5 billion! This was notarized by a lawyer!
"Xiao, you're too impulsive!" Fabian frowned after learning about this. "If Friedrich deliberately causes trouble so that you can't retrieve the wealth from the seabed within a year, then you're going to give him 1.5 billion for nothing, right?"
Xiao Peng, however, sat there with a relaxed look on his face: "Why is he deliberately causing trouble?"
"He only needs to tell those 'vultures' about your shipwreck, and you won't be able to salvage it, right?" Fabian said.
Xiao Peng asked, "Which would you choose, 3.5 billion or 1.5 billion? Do you think Friedrich would give up 3.5 billion for 1.5 billion?"
"Dude, have you forgotten about those cultural relics? Have you ever considered the value of those cultural relics?"
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