After the French “sightseeing group” landed, Australia was quick to react, publicly stating: “As soon as we receive the invitation letter, we will book the tickets immediately!” It has now become a global hotspot that everyone wants to visit, increasingly gaining international recognition!
What has truly excited industry insiders is a recent economic forum summit held in China, which was star-studded! CEOs from Apple, Qualcomm, BMW, and Mercedes all personally attended to show their support.
Among them, the most notable was the CEO of ASML, Peter Wennink, the “dominant player” in lithography machines from the Netherlands.
This big shot returned to China after six years, performing a rapid transformation that could rival a Sichuan opera face-changing act!
Do you remember six years ago? Back then, Mr. Wennink was quite “proud”. In response to China’s pursuit in chip manufacturing, he boldly declared: “Hmph, even if we laid out the blueprints for our best lithography machines, you still couldn’t produce them!” His air of superiority was palpable even through the screen.
Just after this brief “one-day tour” in China, ASML immediately sent out new signals, with an attitude that was as warm as spring: “Oh, we very much hope to continue close cooperation with our Chinese partners to improve the chip industry together!”
How did the once “arrogant” ASML suddenly become so “friendly”? What kind of “spiritual shock” did this short “one-day tour” bring them? Were they surprised by some “secret weapon” of ours? Or is there something else going on?
Before Mr. Wennink set off for China, there were already whispers in the industry. Foreign media had reported that the “big brother” across the ocean was secretly pressuring ASML to tighten the restrictions on the relatively “ordinary” DUV lithography machines, preventing us from purchasing them easily.
Can ASML not be anxious about this? They are well aware:
The most advanced and profitable EUV lithography machines have already been banned from being sold to our major players due to previous restrictions.
However, in recent years, the demand for the slightly “less advanced” but equally critical DUV lithography machines in the Chinese market has exploded! Buy, buy, buy! China has directly become ASML’s third-largest customer globally!
While EUV machines are excellent, they are expensive and difficult to produce. The machines that can be widely deployed and provide a continuous cash flow are still the DUVs. In other words, the Chinese market is ASML’s real “performance growth engine” and “profit cow”! How could Mr. Wennink not value this? If the “big brother” messes this up, losing such a large cake would be a significant loss!
However! Just being afraid of losing the market is not enough to explain this “180-degree turn”. This “one-day tour” likely made ASML genuinely feel something different—namely, the “Chinese speed” and “Chinese determination”!
Since the Americans began various “choke points” and “obstacles”, what can our companies do? Just lie down and take the ridicule? That won’t do! The inherent spirit of not giving up has been fully ignited! Everyone is determined to dive into the “unmanned zone” of independent research and development.
Especially in the field of lithography machines, known as the “pearl on the crown of industry”, which once seemed unattainable, now? Our own “assault team” like Shanghai Microelectronics is truly putting in the effort, willing to “sit on a bench for ten years” to tackle the challenges.
And guess what? They have indeed made significant progress!
Internal news has already spread: Their own 90-nanometer lithography machine is no longer just a laboratory sample; it is a “promising machine” that can actually be produced and achieve mass production!
What is even more exciting? The 28-nanometer lithography machine, which has a higher technical difficulty, is reportedly in the final sprint stage, with the integration of various key components nearing completion, just a step away from truly “lighting up the domestic high-end manufacturing skill tree”!
At this point, don’t you feel that the situation is starting to become subtle?
Think about it: On ASML’s side, even if they want to show goodwill now, due to restrictions, they can at most sell us some relatively outdated models of DUV, which can only handle chip production around 38 nanometers.
But on our side? Our appetite has long been upgraded! Our current core goal is no longer just to satisfy “whether there are any”, but to put in significant effort to firmly grasp the mainstream chip manufacturing processes of 28 nanometers and even 14 nanometers, which are currently the most widely used and in high demand, achieving “my territory, I make the rules”!
With this in mind… when ASML comes back to “enthusiastically wave”, doesn’t it feel like the timing is a bit… off?
This feels a bit like what Ren Zhengfei once said: “At first, you wanted to sell, but I couldn’t afford it or you wouldn’t sell; now you want to sell? Sorry, we might have figured it out ourselves, or our needs have changed.” Doesn’t that resonate?
Of course, we must be realistic and not get carried away. In the most cutting-edge, few-nanometer-level chip technology, we do indeed still have a gap compared to the world’s top level, and there is still a long way to go. This must be recognized.
But does this stop us from focusing on our own path? Clearly not!
Ultimately, external blockades and pressures are like a double-edged sword; they do hurt, but they also act as a catalyst, forcing us to accelerate our independent research and development pace, steadfastly pursuing “full localization” and “de-Americanization”.
Isn’t this plot development a bit like what Bill Gates once “predicted”: “The more you restrict, the more you stimulate China to resolutely do it themselves, and in the end, you can’t stop them from having their own core technology!” Hey, doesn’t that sound increasingly reasonable now?
“Chinese chips” now carry pressure, challenges, and heavy hopes and motivations! Every time we see our own technological breakthroughs, the excitement and pride in our hearts are truly hard to express!
Indeed, let us all look forward to the day when “Chinese chips” break through the encirclement and stand tall! Let’s work hard!
What do you think about this? Do you believe ASML’s “turnaround” is sincere or forced? How optimistic are you about the future of “Chinese chips”? Come and leave your insightful comments in the comment section, and let’s discuss!