It’s not that I don’t understand, it’s that the world is changing too fast.

Anyway, dramatic scenes happened.

Do you still remember the world-class farce two days ago? Musk is taking on Apple. Apple is the world's largest company by market capitalization, and Musk is the world's richest man. But once they disagreed, they got into a fierce fight.

Musk is firing on all cylinders, targeting a 30% “Apple tax.”

He is very individual and even sent a photo. He was driving a car to a fork in the highway. It said "Pay 30% Commission" on the left and "Start War" on the right. , the car chose the exit on the right.

Musk wants to "start a war"!

He also publicly questioned Apple CEO Cook: "Apple threatened to delete Twitter from the App Store. What happened?"

They are all super rich, why is it so public? Got into a fight?

Two reasons. One is the "Apple tax." Twitter works hard to generate revenue, but 30% must go into Apple’s pockets. Is Musk not angry?

The second is that Apple stops advertising. Apple is Twitter’s “top advertiser.” After Musk took over Twitter, Apple suspended advertising. How could Musk not jump in?

What’s interesting is that when Musk criticized Apple on Twitter, he still used an Apple phone.

What’s even more interesting is that Musk also said that if Apple dares to remove Twitter, he will make a new mobile phone. Well, you have to do things to the best of your ability, so follow the path of Apple’s iPhone.

But the more dramatic thing is yet to come. Just when people are eagerly anticipating the 300th round between Musk and Cook, and Tesla launching mobile phone production to copy Apple, a twisting scene happens:

Cook warmly invited Musk to Apple headquarters in California. The two had cordial and friendly talks. Comrade Cook solemnly clarified that Apple will not stop advertising on Twitter and will not remove Twitter from the software store. I have no intention of maintaining a hostile relationship with Musk

I made this up, but that’s roughly what it means. In Musk's words, Apple clarified the "misunderstanding" to him and Apple never intended to remove Twitter.

The arrogant Apple is no longer arrogant, and Musk is naturally more willing to give up when things get better. He no longer criticizes the 30% Apple tax, and does not talk about making his own mobile phones.

The battle between giants is more dramatic than children playing house.

Do you have principles?

It seems that there is, but it seems that there is not. The key is money. Once the money is provided, even the richest man in the world will still smile. Well done to you, Cook.

But are dramatic things happening recently?

There are too many.

Don’t forget, just last year, France and the United States had quarrels and frictions. Biden's catchphrase was "America is back." The French finally came to their senses: The United States is back. The United States is back to steal a big deal from the French!

Because the United States and the United Kingdom actually went behind France's back and signed a contract with Australia to help Australia build nuclear submarines, thereby leveraging France and Australia's large submarine orders of tens of billions of dollars in black and white.

A good friend in person was stabbed in the back. Macron was so angry that he immediately recalled his ambassador to the United States. In the more than 200 years since the United States and France established diplomatic relations, this is the first time that France has recalled its ambassador to the United States.

But the situation changes quickly. Just a few days ago, Macron happily went to the United States, and Biden dedicated his first state dinner to Macron. The 80-year-old Biden and the 44-year-old Macron shook hands for a full 42 seconds when they met, which made the photographers really unbearable.

What major differences?

If you rob me of my money, then of course you won’t do anything to Dai Tian; if you give me something sweet, then we are good friends. Of course, it does not exclude the possibility of one scene in front of others and another scene behind others.

Also, the Nordic countries have always looked down upon Türkiye, not to mention pointing fingers at Türkiye. In the past, Türkiye had nothing to do but scold it. Unexpectedly, Finland and Sweden later wanted to join NATO, and Turkey was in charge. If you want to join, you must agree to my conditions.

Finland and Sweden can only bow their heads.

A very dramatic example recently, two Kurdish men thought that Sweden was safe and were very comfortable working in Sweden and applying for asylum. Little did they know that the Swedish government suddenly turned against them, arrested the two of them, and extradited them to Turkey that night

I don’t know, but what I do know is that what you couldn’t have imagined half a year ago, Turkey has actually accomplished half a year later.

What about the human rights that Sweden has always advocated?

Hey, don’t pick up any pot. People have higher interests.

Why are there so many dramatic events?

Very simple. This is the world, this is reality, this is interest.

It is harder to touch interests than to touch souls, and anything can be sold for interests. Of course I'm talking about some people. There are some people in some Western countries who usually speak loudly about their principles and say the same thing about many things. But when it comes to reality, isn't it true that their interests are worth the price of gold?

What principle?

Sometimes there is only a position and no right or wrong.

What benefits?

Sometimes, for the sake of profit, you can throw away anything.

In this world, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, but only permanent interests. Sometimes, it has to be said that nobility is the epitaph of the noble, and despicability is the pass of the despicable.

So, when you are excited to watch Musk fight Apple and look forward to Tesla also producing mobile phones, things take a turn for the worse. Cook holds the flower, Musk smiles, and the two get back together and are as loving as ever. , the 30% Apple tax is not mentioned, Tesla mobile phones are just like this.

So, when you want to see France and the United States fall out, Macron angrily criticizes the old Biden, things have already changed , hitting is affection, scolding is love, if you don't love enough, you kick, beauty and law are the same heart. Of course, don't be too disappointed. This is just the first wave. We don't rule out the second wave. There will be another wave, and old enemies will start quarreling in bed again.

Oh, by the way, after meeting the old Biden, the last big boss Macron met before leaving the United States was Musk. Musk was having a heated argument with Biden. When the two horses meet, I wonder what dramatic events will happen?

Extended reading:

From allies to scapegoats, will the United States and Europe end in "divorce"

China News Network

Beijing, December 3 (Xinhua) On December 2, local time, French President Macron concluded his three-day visit to the United States.

This is Macron’s second state visit to the United States. The United States welcomed China with a rare standard, intending to demonstrate the "warm relationship" between the two sides. However, despite careful arrangements, it is difficult to conceal the geopolitical differences between the United States and Europe.

The once close allies have drifted apart. Originally seeking "fairness" and "respect," Macron seems to have brought back to the European continent only empty words of praise and verbal promises that are difficult to fulfill.

Beyond the intimate meeting, Europe is hurt alone

Macron is the first foreign leader received by the Biden administration for a state visit to the United States. In order to emphasize the critical significance of the American-French alliance, the United States held a series of grand welcome ceremonies.

On December 1, Biden met with Macron at the White House. A series of small interactions such as handshakes and hugs between the two were described by Agence France-Presse as "an outpouring of brotherhood." The 80-year-old Biden evaluated the 44-year-old Macron as a "close friend" and reiterated that France is the "oldest ally" of the United States.

But beyond the meeting, the increasingly serious trade differences between the United States and Europe cast an indelible shadow on the feast.

For several months, the discriminatory subsidy measures in the "Inflation Reduction Act" signed by Biden have caused strong dissatisfaction in Europe. On the first day of his visit to the United States, Macron directly "opened fire" when meeting with members of both parties in the U.S. Congress and business leaders. He just wanted to be "respected as a good friend" by the United States. However, U.S. trade subsidies eliminated the relationship with Europe’s level playing field is “extremely aggressive”.

Macron’s move somewhat embarrassed Biden. During a press conference with Macron, Biden responded that "the United States will not apologize for this," and that he himself will not apologize for signing the bill. But the United States can make fine adjustments to relevant policies, and they have no intention of making Europe pay the price.

How many concessions can the United States achieve? Some analysts say that even if Biden wants to withdraw some trade measures, the Democratic Party lost its majority in the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections, and any of its agenda will be difficult to easily pass through Congress.

Coupled with the fact that states such as Ohio and Michigan have strong auto industries that welcome huge subsidies, it is obviously difficult for Macron to achieve major results during this trip.

As they drift further apart, will the United States and Europe end in "divorce"?

This is not the first time that the United States has stabbed what it claims to be an important ally. France and other European countries have been repeatedly used by the United States as "takers" to prevent disasters and put out fires.

Last year, the United States, Britain, and Australia announced the establishment of a "trilateral security partnership" with high profile, which made the French feel "the unpleasant taste of being despised and marginalized." The United States also "stabbed in the back" and cut off France and Australia's tens of billions of dollars in submarine orders, which made Macron very angry and the relationship between the two countries reached a low point.

Now, the United States has made a lot of "energy wealth" in the Ukraine crisis, once again making its allies feel aggrieved and angry, adding salt to the wound. Europe has reduced its dependence on Russian energy and turned to the United States to purchase natural gas, but the price is three to four times the cost of purchasing the same fuel in the United States.

At the same time, Europe is still helping the United States clean up the mess in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other issues. In particular, social problems caused by the influx of refugees continue to affect and tear Europe apart. In comparison, the number of refugees the United States has long been willing to accept is relatively limited, and the Biden administration has also been exposed that it may not be able to implement the refugee quota for the 2022 fiscal year.

As the differences between the United States and Europe deepen, Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council, sarcastically said that the "marriage" between the two is likely to end in "divorce."

From the perspective of the United States, the friendship with its major traditional allies in Europe may no longer be what it used to be. A senior U.S. Army general in Europe who requested anonymity recently said in an interview with the U.S. political news website Politico that after the United Kingdom, Germany is no longer recognized as the "best partner" of the United States; on the other hand, Poland has "developed become our most important partner on the European continent."

He explained that although the United States and Poland are not very close politically, Washington and Warsaw cooperate closely on military support for Ukraine.

But Politico expressed the "business calculation" in the heart of the United States in one sentence: "No country plans to expand its military so quickly and extensively as Poland. Whoever obtains Poland's arms orders will benefit in the long term. Because that also involves the maintenance and repair of weapons.”

Call for strategic autonomy. Can Europe get rid of its dependence on the United States?

In recent years, European leaders have repeatedly called for strengthening European strategic autonomy. This time, after the United States introduced the "Inflation Reduction Act," voices calling for weaning off its dependence on the United States reappeared.

France has led calls for domestic government support for European companies, including large-scale subsidies. Some German officials pointed out that the EU still has 200 billion euros in epidemic recovery funds available, which can be repurposed to support industry.

Some European media commented that today’s Europeans must ask themselves: Why does our peace and prosperity depend on the interests of the United States?

Will these voices become a driving force for Europe to achieve strategic autonomy, or is it just a diplomatic statement?

In fact, Europe still has a long way to go before it can truly achieve strategic independence. Previous analysts said that Trump’s election as US president and Britain’s departure from the EU would have a huge impact on the EU. Voices questioning the liberal order gradually emerged within European countries, and calls for reform of the neoliberal economic model became louder. The COVID-19 epidemic has further exposed the risks of European intellectual dependence on the American model, and has also triggered intellectual reflection within European society.

However, these reflections are not enough to be reflected at the political and policy level. Once an external crisis strikes, Europe's enthusiasm for strategic independence is likely to be replaced by strategic panic, and the original "America-centric thinking" model will be reset.

Editor: Xia Lijuan