Looking back at the course of China's scientific and technological development, it is not difficult to find that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, this land of China has been full of vitality. As a rising power, the Chinese people have always cherished a strong sense of national self-confidence and pride, and have constantly written brilliant achievements in various fields that have impressed the world.
Among them, integrated circuits, as a key pillar to promote scientific and technological progress, have attracted the attention of the Chinese people.
As early as 1965, the Chinese Academy of Sciences gathered all domestic talents to jointly launch the first monolithic integrated circuit, and for the first time achieved a breakthrough that led the whole of Asia for 10 years.
This undoubtedly marks the beginning of a new era in China's electronic information technology. Since then, with the relay efforts of generation after generation of scientific research workers, China's integrated circuit industry has continued to climb to new heights and made remarkable achievements.
In 2023, China's chip industry can be described as fruitful, with major breakthroughs in many frontier fields. Especially in the fields of 5G, artificial intelligence and digital transformation, the technological level of Chinese enterprises has reached the world-class level, which has attracted global attention.
For example, Xinhai Technology Co., Ltd. proudly announced the official launch of the first EC chip product in China, demonstrating to the world the vigorous development of China's scientific and technological strength; And just a year later, in November 2023, they launched a series of new personal computer (PC) products, which can be said to be full of infinite anticipation around the world.
It can be said that after unremitting efforts, China's chip industry has now become an important focus on the international stage. Although there have been many obstacles on the way forward, as long as we follow the footsteps of scientific and technological innovation and move forward unremittingly, this Chinese core army will eventually become the guide of the world's scientific and technological power.
Large-scale export of lithography machines to China
Just as China's chip industry is booming, an exciting event quietly happened - in September 2023, Dutch lithography giant ASML finally received permission to export its flagship 2000i series and other more advanced immersion lithography machines to China.
It is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chinese enterprises that are keen to introduce advanced equipment. Since then, ASML's orders have soared, and its performance has skyrocketed.
In the second half of 2023 alone, ASML's revenue in the Chinese market has skyrocketed by more than 4 times, even reaching a staggering 91. 900 million euros, a new historical record.
The key to all of this is the strong demand for ASML from Chinese companies. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of the overall level of China's chip industry, the desire for advanced manufacturing equipment has become increasingly strong.
As a leader in the global semiconductor industry, ASML's lithography machine can be called the "bright pearl in the crown of the chip industry", which is undoubtedly an indispensable key equipment for Chinese chip companies.
It is the eagerness of Chinese companies to snap up ASML's lithography machines that has made ASML's performance grow by leaps and bounds in 2023. According to statistics, in September of that year, the number of lithography machines exported by ASML to China skyrocketed by 1,850%, setting an astonishing growth record.
This not only allowed ASML to achieve a sharp increase in revenue, but also injected surging impetus into the development of China's chip industry.
Regrettably, however, this valuable export license can only be extended until the end of 2023. For new orders in 2024 and beyond, ASML may find it difficult to obtain export licenses.
This means that from January 1, 2024, the door to China's semiconductor equipment trade may be permanently closed, and ASML's sales performance in China will inevitably be hit hard.
However, the root cause of this situation is not ASML's own reasons, but from the continuous crackdown in the United States. Since the birth of New China, the United States has always been eyeing China's scientific and technological development, and has impressively regarded China as its biggest competitor.
Especially in the field of chips, the United States does not hesitate to take risks and take various measures to contain the rise of China.
As early as the Trump era, the U.S. government has begun to impose targeted restrictions on China's chip industry. For example, they have teamed up with other countries to try to suppress China's chip exports through trade barriers.
At the same time, the United States has also unceremoniously launched a series of anti-China actions around the world in an attempt to curb the rise of China's electronic information industry.
And after the Biden administration came to power, the situation has not improved in the slightest. On the contrary, the pressure on China's chip industry has been escalating. At the beginning of 2023, the United States and Japan jointly decided to restrict the export of high-end chip equipment and raw materials to China, as if this would hinder China's technological progress.
What is particularly puzzling is that the United States has opened up to Qualcomm, which is also an American company, and allowed it to sell chips to Huawei. This practice of double standards has undoubtedly exposed the naked hegemonism of the United States.
They know that Huawei's technological superiority in the field of 5G is threatening the position of the United States, so they will not hesitate to suppress Huawei by all means in a vain attempt to maintain their dominance.
However, the US conspiracy did not succeed. As one of the world's largest consumers of semiconductors, Chinese companies have never stopped demanding ASML. During 2023, ASML also successfully obtained export licenses to export more advanced lithography machines such as the 2000i to China.
This undoubtedly put the United States under tremendous pressure, and immediately began to impose a more powerful policy of restrictions.
Since June this year, under strong pressure from the United States, the Dutch government has also begun to tighten controls on the export of semiconductor equipment. And in October, export restrictions on China's advanced semiconductors and chip-making tools were further increased.
This can be said to be another attack by the United States to suppress China's chip industry.
However, even in the face of such obstacles, Chinese science and technology workers are still full of confidence and are bound to break through the encirclement on this road of technological innovation and achieve independence and control.
As the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said: "We have always been unswervingly defending our legitimate rights and interests, and we will continue to take concrete actions to safeguard the common interests of China and the Netherlands."
A major breakthrough in technology
Despite all the obstructions from the United States, China's chip industry has not slowed down. On the contrary, under the treacherous international situation, Chinese scientific and technological workers have gritted their teeth, worked hard, and made breakthroughs in key technical fields such as lithography machines.
As early as 1965, the Chinese Academy of Sciences took the lead in launching the first monolithic integrated circuit in China, which was at the forefront of the field of electronic information. Now, this Chinese science and technology pioneer force is once again striving to be the first, and has successfully conquered the three core subsystems in the lithography machine, which is a "treasure" related to the future of chips, and has achieved a qualitative leap from "0" to "1".
This remarkable achievement has undoubtedly injected surging impetus into the future development of China's chip industry. After all, lithography machines, as key equipment for manufacturing integrated circuits, are crucial to promoting the refined development of chip processes below 7 nanometers.
Mastering the manufacturing technology of this "treasure" will undoubtedly create an impregnable line of defense for China's chip industry.
Driven by this innovation boom, the independent research and development achievements of Chinese chip companies have also emerged one after another. In 2022, Chipsea Technology Co., Ltd. proudly announced that it had successfully developed the first EC chip product "CSC2E101" in China, demonstrating the extraordinary charm of China's scientific and technological strength to the world.
What's even more exciting is that just one year later, in November 2023, Chipsea Technology has launched a series of new personal computer (PC) products one after another.
These achievements all show that China's chip industry is making great progress and is continuing to accelerate to catch up with the world's advanced level.
At such a critical moment, ASML's sudden approval to export advanced lithography machines to China has undoubtedly brought new opportunities for the development of China's chip industry. With strong financial and technical advantages, Chinese companies can't wait to invest in the introduction of ASML lithography machines, which has injected a steady stream of power into ASML's performance.
China's chip industry is moving forward with tenacity
However, just as China's chip industry is in full swing, the United States, a formidable competitor, has once again stepped in to obstruct China's technological progress. Since the beginning of the Trump era, the United States has continuously introduced various restrictions in an attempt to curb China's rise in the chip field.
Now, under the Biden administration, this crackdown has escalated, which is puzzling.
Since June 2023 alone, under strong pressure from the United States, the Dutch government has begun to tighten controls on the export of semiconductor equipment. And in October, export restrictions on China's advanced semiconductors and chip-making tools were further increased.
This has undoubtedly become another gap on the road to the development of China's chip industry.
However, this hard-working Chinese science and technology corps did not admit defeat. In the face of tremendous pressure, they are still firmly committed to independent innovation as the fundamental way of development, and they are not flinching in overcoming difficulties in key areas.
As the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said: "We have always respected and adhered to the spirit of the contract and unswervingly defended our legitimate rights and interests."
Encouraged by this confidence, Chinese chip companies burst out with vitality. For example, in 2022, Xinhai Technology Co., Ltd. proudly announced the launch of China's first EC chip product, demonstrating the vigorous development of China's scientific and technological strength to the world.
What's even more gratifying is that just a year later, in November 2023, they have launched a series of new PC products, which can be said to be full of infinite anticipation around the world.
At the same time, China has also made remarkable breakthroughs in core technology fields such as lithography machines. It is reported that the Chinese scientific research team has successfully overcome the three core subsystems of the lithography machine and achieved a qualitative leap from "0" to "1".
This has undoubtedly injected a strong impetus into the future development of China's chip industry, and also strengthened China's determination to climb to the peak in the field of science and technology.
It is with these innovative efforts that China's chip industry has achieved rapid development and has become an important force on the world stage. In stark contrast, the U.S. market share in the semiconductor industry has plummeted from 37% in 1990 to 12% in 2020, which can be described as a sigh.
The future development of China's chip industry
Looking forward to the future, there is undoubtedly endless room for imagination in the vast world of China's chip industry. As long as we always keep in mind the fundamental principle of "independent innovation" and unswervingly promote technological progress, I believe that China will be able to occupy the commanding heights in this fierce scientific and technological competition and become a veritable "scientific and technological power".
For example, in the key field of lithography machines, China has made a major breakthrough from "0" to "1". Next, as long as we continue to increase R&D investment and further optimize and improve core components, I believe that China's self-developed lithography machine products will be on par with the world's advanced level in terms of performance and reliability.
This will inject an inexhaustible impetus into the development of China's chip industry, and will also take the initiative in China's future scientific and technological competition.
At the same time, the independent innovation achievements of Chinese chip companies are also emerging. Just as Chipsea Technology has launched EC chips and a series of new PC products, these innovative achievements that have attracted the world's attention undoubtedly show that China is constantly narrowing the gap with the international advanced level.
As long as we continue to maintain this momentum of courage to surpass, I believe that China will climb new heights in the field of chips and become a leader in global scientific and technological innovation.
In addition, in terms of policy support, the Chinese government has also been giving all-round support to the chip industry. Since the beginning of the Trump era, the United States has suppressed the development of China's chip industry by imposing various restrictive measures, but the Chinese government has always insisted on taking concrete actions to protect its own interests and maintaining close cooperation with the Netherlands and other countries.
This perseverance and unswerving attitude towards development has undoubtedly pointed out the way forward for the future development of China's chip industry.
To sum up, under the continuous suppression of the United States, China's chip industry still maintains a vigorous upward momentum of development.
As long as we firmly grasp the key of "independent innovation", strengthen our confidence and move forward bravely, I believe that China will be able to run its own wonderful chapter on this fierce scientific and technological track, and eventually become a "scientific and technological power" in the true sense.