Text | Observe Jun
Restricting lithography machines has become a joke, and Biden can't hold back! ASML president publicly said: We must stand in China!
In order to restrict the chip industry in the mainland, Lao Mei really put a lot of effort into it. On the one hand, it pressures ASML, the world's top lithography machine giant, to restrict ASML from selling high-end lithography machines to us, and on the other hand, it plans to draw salaries from the bottom of the kettle, hoping to stop providing maintenance and other services for lithography machines in Chinese mainland by pressuring ASML.
However, judging from the latest news, the wishful thinking of the United States is doomed to fail, because ASML has publicly rejected the United States' approach, and Biden really can't hold back.
According to a Reuters report on the 17th, the CEO of ASML spoke publicly on the 17th, saying: At present, there is no reason why the company should not provide services for the equipment that has been sold to Chinese customers, and there is nothing to prevent the company from providing services to Chinese customers!
This time, the president of ASML said that it can be summed up in one sentence: we must stand on China's side and will not give up Chinese customers because of pressure from the United States.
According to people familiar with the matter, after the CEO of ASML stated, Biden couldn't hold back, and was furious at the White House, during which he also contacted the Dutch authorities, but did not achieve satisfactory results.
So, why does the Netherlands, and even ASML, dare to be so tough on Biden? The reason is actually very simple, that is, ASML's performance has exploded, and he must rely on the Chinese market. Not long ago, ASML announced its revenue and net profit for the first quarter of this year, and the results were not very optimistic, with a sharp decline, of which the number of new orders fell by more than 60% month-on-month, far lower than market expectations.
So, what is the reason for ASML's performance to be so dismal? There are two main reasons, the first global chip market has indeed entered a bottleneck period, the demand for chip manufacturing equipment has weakened, and the sales of natural lithography machines have declined. Another reason is that the pressure exerted by the United States on ASML has made many customers in Chinese mainland afraid to place orders.
In fact, because of the chip suppression of the United States, the demand for lithography machines in China is still very strong, but the United States has been doing things, so it does not dare to place large orders. According to data released by ASML, as of the first quarter of this year, Chinese mainland accounted for 49% of ASML's revenue, and it has also become ASML's largest market for three consecutive months.
What's more, this is still the performance after being pressured by Lao Mei, and if there is no pressure, then I am afraid that this number will double. To put it bluntly, the United States is cutting off ASML's financial route, and always uses various intimidation methods to scare away ASML's food and clothing.
As long as it is not for the United States to really take a tough shot, ASML will definitely continue to insist on staying in the Chinese market and providing lithography machines for Chinese customers, so in the short term, the problem is still not big.
However, in the long run, self-reliance is fundamental. Now ASML is on our side, but it is only because of interests, and once the United States provides higher benefits, it is difficult to guarantee that the other side will not turn its face. Therefore, the research and development of domestic lithography machines must continue, not slacken, self-improvement is the king, and gentlemen do not stand dangerous walls!