If the only way to stay competitive is to make combustion cars then why do we see new Chinese manufacturers being all electric?

I don’t want those people to lose their jobs, which is one reason why their bosses need to be dragged in to the 21st century.

Mate, I don't think you get it. You can make EVs instead of ICEs if you want, but who will buy them when your EVs are expensive and your consumers currently wage poor? You can't make Chinese priced EVs in Europe and still expect to stay in business. China can subsidize their industry longer than you can stay solvent, as long as they know they'll bankrupt your industry in the long run and then make you dependent on them. Competing with China can't be done on equal footing because they don't play fair.