What a cheat!

It was a thought that welled up in Bovard's mind. McGuig's words are well-founded, and Bovard can't believe them. Earlier, Heinzl made it clear that the Captain Cook project had only completed the general design, while the Chinese had already built a platform, and only painting was left to put it into use. People Biertu company said that the technology of the Chinese is more mature, where is it wrong?

"But, Mr. Biltu, do you know how the Chinese do this?" asked Emmeline. The shock in her heart was no less than that of Bovard, but she still had to understand the cause and effect.

McGuig shook his head and said, "I haven't looked into it. However, I went to China to see the platform they are building, and I was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm and fighting spirit of the Chinese. During the few days I was stranded in China, I found that there were workers working on the platform at any given time, and I even suspected that they lived on the platform, as some people could work more than 12 hours a day. ”

"Is this a violation of employee rights?" asked Emmeline. She remembered that one of the reasons for the investigation put forward by Prometheus was about the protection of employees' rights and interests, which may be a weakness of the Chinese.

McGuig shrugged his shoulders and said, "So what? We Europeans are lazy every day, don't we allow the Chinese to work hard?"

"However, if Chinese do violate the rules on the protection of employees' rights, the EU is obliged to ban the export of their products to the EU." Bovard said.

"It's your power, but only if you don't mind the price of oil in Europe going up to $100 a barrel," McGuig said. ”

Belch......

Bovard and Emmeline were speechless, how could they continue to talk this day. McQuigg's point is clear: if the EU restricts Biltu from importing rigs from China on such grounds, Biltu will raise the price of oil and make the whole of Europe pay for the decision.

There is almost no oil on European land, and of course, this means Europe other than Russia, which cannot be counted on the EU's supply list. If it does not want to be blackmailed by Russia, the United States, or the Middle East, Europe must develop offshore oil. The European Union promoted the Captain Cook project in the first place because of the need to develop offshore oil. Now that the Captain Cook project has not made progress, but the Chinese have taken the lead, if oil companies, including Biltu, are not allowed to introduce Chinese rigs, Europe's oil production will not be able to increase, and then the rise in oil prices will really not be just a threat.

"I think you should go and find out how the Captain Cook project is going, and ask them why it's been going on for five years and it's not working. If they have the same work spirit as the Chinese, we will not refuse to accept their products. McGregor said to the two.

"Okay, let's go find out first. Bovard agreed.

Coming out of the Biltu company, Bovard and Emmeline flew directly to the Netherlands without delay. Before his departure in Norway, Bovard sent an email to Matsk, chairman of the Captain Cook Program Committee, asking him to meet him and ask him to choose a suitable venue. Matsk replied by email, making an appointment to meet at a café in downtown Amsterdam. After Bovard and Emmeline were shocked, they gave the address directly to the taxi driver, and then found the café with the driver's guidance.

"Mr. Bovard, Miss Emmeline, we haven't seen each other for a long time. ”

Matsk had arrived early, and when he saw Bovard and Emmeline entering, he greeted them warmly and shook hands with them.

In fact, Matsk is not familiar with these two people, counting this time, they have only met three times, and the last time they met was more than two years ago. Bovard also remembered that the person in charge of Captain Cook's project was Matsk, and found his contact information in the old e-mail box.

After exchanging greetings, the two sides took their separate seats. After ordering a cup of coffee and gossiping with Matsk about the weather, Bovard cut to the chase.

"Mr. Matsk, I have come to the Netherlands mainly to find out about the current state of the Captain Cook project. Can you tell me honestly about how far this project has come so far? Bovard said.

With a sneering look on his face, Matsk said: "If I'm not mistaken, the project is still in place and has not made any progress. ”

"In place, when do you mean in place?" asked Bovard.

"Of course, five years ago, when the project was first launched. "In fact, there has been no progress on the project for five years." ”

However, Prometheus' Mr. Heinzl said that through their efforts, the overall design of the sixth-generation platform has been completed. Bovard said.

Matsk nodded: "That's true. During my tenure as chair of the committee, we held more than a dozen general design workshops and proposed no less than 20 general design proposals. I think Prometheus means that they have come up with a general plan. ”

"During your tenure as Chairman of the Committee?" Bauvard was stunned, "Mr. Matsk, are you no longer Chairman of the Committee now?"

"Yes, I stepped down two years ago. Matsk was also a little confused, because he had resigned for two years because his chairman had no sense of existence, and the EU officials didn't know it.

"Uh......" Bovard was embarrassed, the project committee must have informed the EU about this matter, but he didn't see it. He asked Matsk to meet him entirely based on his past impressions, but he did not expect that Matsk would no longer be in this position.

"So, Mr. Matsk, what are you doing now?" asked Emmeline, asking the question more to divert attention.

Reserved Matsk, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to the two of them. Bovard took the business card, glanced at it, and couldn't help but be a little confused: "Chief Consultant of the European Research Institute of the Zhenghe Program...... What does this Zhenghe plan mean?"

"Zheng He, China's greatest navigator of the 15th century, led a fleet of ships that crossed the Indian Ocean seven times to the east coast of Africa. Matsk said proudly. Regarding Zheng He's deeds, he has only heard about it a few times, and the details are undoubtedly very inaccurate.

"I remembered that the Zheng He plan was the sixth-generation drilling rig development program led by the Chinese government. When Emmeline said this, she couldn't help but stare at Matsk, "Mr. Matsk, are you saying that after you left the Captain Cook project, you turned to China's sixth-generation platform development project. ”

"Exactly. "I work at the Institute of European Studies of the Zheng He Program, and I am the chief consultant of the institute, which is actually the technical director. The sixth-generation drilling rig we have designed has already completed the hull construction and installation of major equipment in China, and will soon be put into practical use in the South China Sea. At this time, the Captain Cook project was still in debate. ”

"This ......" Emmeline didn't know what to say, and after a long time of trouble, the heads of the Captain Cook project had defected, could there be any good results for this project? She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Mr. Matsk, can I ask why you did this?"

"To fulfill my ambitions, of course!" said Matsk, looking at the two officials and indignantly recounting: "You may think that I betrayed the Captain Cook project because I coveted the preferential treatment given to me by the Chinese? When I was first appointed Chairman of the Captain Cook Project Committee, I was excited to create a world-class sixth-generation drilling rig on my hands.

However, when I started working, I realized that Europeans were no longer what they were during the Industrial Revolution. None of the dozen or so large European companies involved in this project want to do anything seriously, they are only keen on how to defraud the EU of preferential policies, hoping that others will develop the technology and then give it to them to use for free. I put in a lot of effort to raise the money needed for the project, but it wasn't until I left that less than 10% of the money needed for the project was in place. ”

"This ...... I think there's a reason for that. Bovard argued feebly. As an official of the European Union, he knows this kind of thing too well, and European companies are now mainly eating their old capital, and it is more difficult to get them to spend money on research and development. The economic downturn in Europe in recent years is of course also an important reason. As a result of the economic downturn, the income of each company has decreased, and the funds that can be used for R&D cannot be secured. Insufficient investment in R&D will inevitably lead to a decline in market competitiveness, which in turn will exacerbate the decline of Europe. Such a vicious circle, Bovard sees in his eyes, but there is no way at all.

Matsk ignored Bovard's words and continued: "The Chinese, on the other hand, have a strong will in this matter. Their country is very poor, but still comes up with a lot of money to advance this. They set up the European Research Institute in Europe and recruited European engineers to serve them with high salaries. I have learned that the salaries of European engineers at the European Research Institute are more than five times that of Chinese managers. Think about it, how can the Chinese not succeed?"

"Perhaps, we should restrict the Chinese from recruiting engineers in Europe, which is stealing our European technology." Bovard said with a sneer.

Matsk sneered: "Does the EU have such power? Why do you interfere with the employment of engineers? If our companies can provide the same salary, I believe these engineers are more willing to work for local companies." Unfortunately, all I see is that European companies are constantly laying off workers, including many of the best scientists and engineers. ”