Not long ago, the Dutch chip equipment manufacturer ASML (ASML) announced an extremely important personnel appointment at its annual meeting in Veldhoven, the former vice president in charge of business and chief commercial officer, Christopher Fouquet, officially succeeded the outgoing Wennink as the new CEO of ASML.
In a recent corporate video released by ASML, former ASML CEO Peter Wennink spoke highly of the new CEO Fuquet, emphasizing Fuquet's extensive recognition and influence within the company.
During his 16 years at ASML, Fuquet became one of the main drivers of the company's technological innovation. He is responsible for the company's extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) equipment, an innovative project that has made ASML the only manufacturer in the world capable of producing EUV equipment, cementing its leadership position in the global semiconductor market.
Dutch tech media Bits&Chips also pointed out that Fuquet's appointment reflects the company's trust in internal leadership and continued commitment to the existing strategic direction.
"Fuquet has been with ASML for a long time and is not only familiar with all of our customers and suppliers, but also with our employees and shareholders, and he is a very familiar person," said Wennink. "This appointment of an insider is seen by the outside world as a continuation of the company's strategy, rather than the beginning of change.
However, as the world's largest lithography machine manufacturer, ASML is not just a company, because the company has the core technology of semiconductor manufacturing, and every high-level change is enough to attract the attention of the global industry chain.
Especially at a time when global semiconductor technology has become the focus of international geopolitical games, the strategic choice of the new CEO has touched the nerves of many countries and enterprises.
Nowadays, the trade war and technology war between China and the United States are intensifying, and the semiconductor industry is the main position of competition between the two sides. As a giant in the manufacture of lithography machines, ASML is also involved in the great power game between China and the United States without any suspense.
In January this year, Dutch lithography giant ASML issued a bombshell statement on its official website, announcing that due to the latest export control measures of the Dutch government, the export license of its NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems was partially revoked, a move that will directly affect specific Chinese customers.
According to ASML to the media, the partial revocation of the license means that they can no longer export the equipment to certain customers in China.
In addition, ASML also mentioned that in recent communications with the U.S. government, the scope of application and specific impact of export controls have been further refined. This is after the latest export control rules released by the United States on October 17, 2023, the United States once again imposed restrictions on the export of specific models of mid-to-high-end DUV immersion lithography machines to individual advanced chip manufacturing fabs.
In addition to being restricted from exporting advanced lithography machines to China, the United States has recently been exposed to pressure on ASML to restrict ASML's after-sales service to China. It can be said that the United States completely wants to use its influence in the Western world to completely cut off trade between ASML and China, so as to curb the development of China's semiconductor industry.
So what is the attitude of the newly appointed Fouquet towards this behavior of the United States?
In fact, Fukai made it clear in the early days of his tenure that the Chinese market was the top priority in his area of responsibility. In fact, ASML's performance in China has been quite impressive. According to the company's financial report for the first quarter of 2024, the Chinese market accounted for 49% of the company's total sales, a record high.
As for the relationship between ASML and the Chinese market, Fuquet also expressed a clear position, he said in many public appearances that the decoupling of the semiconductor supply chain is "extremely difficult and extremely expensive", and he firmly believes that cooperation is the only way to succeed in the global semiconductor field.
ASML's chief financial officer, Roger Dawson, also said in an interview with reporters that China's demand for lithography machines is still very strong, as they are increasing the production capacity of chips.
It can be seen that for ASML, the Chinese market is a market that they cannot give up, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also made the export of lithography machines one of the important topics of the meeting with the Chinese side at the highest level during his visit to China last month.
At that time, the Chinese side solemnly made it clear to Rutte that no force could stop the pace of China's scientific and technological progress. This resolute attitude also made the Dutch government and ASML see China's determination.
As soon as the new CEO of ASML took office, he first expressed his concern for the Chinese market and repeatedly emphasized the importance of cooperation. Therefore, it is not difficult to judge that China is still a very important partner in ASML's future strategy.
Of course, this is what the United States does not want to see, but in the tide of the market economy, the two-way rush between enterprises and the market, and the behavior of the United States "squeezing its head" is doomed to be unworkable.