As the saying goes, "the way of others, the body of others is also governed". This is the unique chivalry and backbone of the Chinese, in the process of Sino-US science and technology competition, we have always maintained a non-humble and non-arrogant attitude, once we touch the bottom line, we will never be soft, and we will fight back when it is time to fight back!
Recently, according to US media reports, starting in July 2023, China's gallium and germanium exports to the United States will be completely stopped. According to customs data, in addition to the United States, China's exports of gallium to Japan will also decrease by about 75% and germanium exports by about 33% in 2023.
There may be many people who wonder why China is so tough this time? The day before China stopped exporting gallium and germanium to the United States, it was the United States that took the lead! In the absence of any reason, the United States prohibits the purchase of batteries from Chinese enterprises, according to the regulations issued by it, six Chinese enterprises, including CATL, BYD, and EVE Lithium Energy, will be restricted from supplying batteries to the United States, and this regulation is expected to take effect in October 2027!
Obviously, after the chip, the United States began to focus on China's new energy vehicle industry again, and wanted to prevent the rise of China's new energy vehicles by suppressing Chinese-made power batteries, so as to consolidate and maintain the interests of local car manufacturers in Europe and the United States, but this kind of "I can only be strong" domineering behavior has seriously affected the development of the entire industry. Decades ago, China was beaten because of its backwardness, and a few decades later, China was beaten because of its lead.
The reason why China uses gallium and germanium to counter the West is because these two rare metal elements are key raw materials for the manufacture and production of semiconductors. China is the world's leader in the production of gallium and germanium. Among them, the gallium element produced in China accounts for 95% of the global production, and the germanium element produced in China accounts for 60% of the global production.
Once China restricts exports of gallium and germanium, the U.S. semiconductor supply chain will be in trouble, and it will be difficult to find alternative markets. Although Lao Mei said that it can be extracted from other product waste, or purchased from other countries, no matter which method, it will greatly increase its cost, thereby affecting the price of materials, and these methods can only be effective in the short term, and in the long run, Lao Mei still has nothing to do!
Obviously, no matter how advanced the manufacturing equipment of the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands is, it is difficult for a clever woman to cook without rice, and without key semiconductor raw materials, how can the United States revive the local chip manufacturing industry? China's countermeasures are not only a demonstration of a tough attitude and a bright sword of strength, but also a good lesson for Lao Meimei!
In the context of global economic integration, it is impossible for any company to be dominant, although the United States has obvious technological advantages in the field of science and technology, and occupies a dominant position, it is impossible to achieve "one-handed grasp", from materials to processing to manufacturing to packaging, all the processes are done by themselves, who can be so powerful?
No matter how strong TSMC is, it can't build lithography machines, and no matter how powerful ASML is, it can't make advanced chips. Obviously, the United States still overestimates itself and underestimates its competitors! There are not many "cards" in China's hands, and we still hope that the United States can recognize the reality and stop being obsessed! Otherwise, it can only bring the result of losing both sides, and the gains outweigh the losses!