IMO, the author is being unfairly generous to the intentions of Europeans. He has it right when he says it's about competition, but then he goes on to credit Europeans for being more interested in progress and general welfare than the Chinese. That interest in progress and public welfare did eventually show up in the 19th century, but until then I'd say it was more about competition for money and power. The elites of the European nation states simply wanted anything that would give them a leg up on their neighbors. Anything that could either benefit their military or create a trade surplus was especially prized.