Many years ago, I wrote an article suggesting that in the semiconductor field, facing Western blockades, it is Shenzhen that must carve out a path forward.
At that time, many believed that Shanghai had a long history of accumulation in semiconductor equipment, along with considerable experience and talent. Companies like SMIC are based in Shanghai.
However, I was not optimistic about Shanghai’s ability to tackle this challenge. Overcoming difficulties and achieving domestic substitution are not Shanghai’s strengths. I even believe that due to Shanghai’s reliance on foreign investment, it cannot invest sufficient funds or guarantee the best talent for high-end chip equipment.
But Shenzhen can. Chip equipment (especially lithography machines) is a luxury for Shanghai, but for Shenzhen’s IT industry chain, under the backdrop of U.S. sanctions, it is a matter of “survival or extinction.”
Shenzhen can certainly concentrate higher quality talent than Shanghai, provide more ample funding, and, with astonishing efficiency, quickly bridge the gap in chip equipment.
Now, the series of products recently launched by Xinkailai in Shenzhen is gradually turning my earlier predictions into reality. Recently, at SEMICON China 2025 held in Shanghai, the company Xinkailai, which was established less than four years ago, showcased over 30 products, including:
—— Diffusion Equipment RTP (Sanqing Mountain)
—— EPI (Emei Mountain);
—— Etching Products ETCH (Wuyi Mountain);
—— Thin Film Products PVD (Putuo Mountain), CVD (Changbai Mountain (603099)), ALD (Ali Mountain); Optical Inspection Products Yuelu Mountain BFI, Danxia Mountain DFI, Penglai Mountain PC, Mogan Mountain MBI; Optical Measurement Products Tianmen Mountain IBO, Tianmen Mountain DBO; PX Measurement Products Yimeng Mountain AFM, Chibi Mountain-XP XPS, Chibi Mountain-XD XRD, Chibi Mountain-XF XRF……
I have previously written that mountains are China’s guardians, as the vast mountainous areas in the West serve as a stronghold, allowing us to turn the tide even during the dark moments of modern history. Almost all domestic chip equipment is named after China’s famous mountains, which I believe has significant implications in feng shui; the mountains silently protect the descendants of Huaxia.
This emerging domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturer is a state-owned enterprise under the Shenzhen State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. It had previously rarely appeared in public or even been heard of, but made a stunning debut by launching multiple new products.
Why choose this moment to showcase? I think, like the sixth-generation fighter jets, major national instruments should not be easily revealed. Since they are being showcased, it must be the right time, or the external environment has changed.
Now, in the era of Trump 2.0, facing the sharpening of globalization, some things must be revealed. If they do not want to be dignified, let advanced technology help them maintain dignity.
Just like DeepSeek in the AI field, since the Americans have made their stance clear, wanting to use AI to extort advanced technology globally, we reveal low-cost open-source technology. Currently, the cards that the U.S. can play still favor chips, and there are still big cards to play.
The breakthrough appearance of domestic semiconductor equipment is naturally for certain people to see; if they want to blockade, please continue and intensify the efforts. We have been preparing, just waiting for this day.
In fact, the cards that can be played now, whether by the U.S. or the West, are already few. The tricks of creating cards out of thin air are probably similar to watching monkeys.
On the front lines, whether in military, technology, trade, etc., we basically do not need to worry about Western countries, even in the information warfare, from “after entering the pass, there will be great Confucians to debate for me,” it has now developed into a logically coherent “Yermani winning studies.”
Next, it may be a long process of detoxification, squeezing out the pus from the poison of Western thought that we have previously endured. As Wang Yangming said, it is easy to eliminate the bandits in the mountains, but difficult to eliminate the bandits in the heart. It now appears that the Chinese are still highly intelligent, as BYD’s president Wang Chuanfu said:
“Chips are made by humans, not by gods.” This is a powerful voice from Shenzhen carving out a path forward.