China has condemned the US for interfering with Dutch companies' export of lithography machines to China, with Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting criticizing the US's weaponization of export control issues. The US Department of Commerce's survey of US companies' purchases of legacy chips, worth nearly $40 billion, aims to reduce China's national security risks by focusing on using and sourcing Chinese-manufactured legacy chips in critical US industries. This move, along with ongoing investigations into the legacy chip supply chain, has increased Beijing's concerns about US interference in normal trade practices.
Key takeaways:
- China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao has expressed deep concern about the US' restrictions on third-country exports of lithography machines to China, highlighting rising global technology tensions.
- The Dutch government revoked an export license for ASML's extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines to China on January 1, following the US government's ban in October.
- China has condemned the US for interfering with Dutch companies' export of lithography machines to China, with Commerce Ministry spokesperson Shu Jueting urging the Dutch side to uphold the spirit of their agreements.
- Despite efforts to improve relations, the US and China remain at odds on several issues, including China's access to advanced technologies, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and broader security concerns.