The Dutch company ASML, as basically the only company in the world that makes the lithography machines used to produce the most complex microchips, has again become a geopolitical pawn. The United States government is preparing to force the Netherlands to ban ASML from selling almost any chip-making machines to China, NU.nl reports.
It’s time for Europe to decide if we want to be a US puppet state or independent.
As an European, I very much prefer not giving Russia’s ally important technology.
As an European, I very much prefer that we apply to those who support Israel the same standards we do for those who support Russia.
So I’m absolutelly fine that we do not give BOTH Israel’s and Russia’s allies important technology.
Doing otherwise would show our “European values” to in practice be nothing more than sociopathic hypocrisy.
Of course, then ASML wouldn’t be able to sell its machines to America and at least half of Europe as well as quite number of other countries.
We should apply the same punishment to countries that directly threaten and invade Europe versus countries that aren’t even close to Europe and are no threat? Do you want EU to become the next world police like US and get involved into all global conflicts? Maybe we should learn a thing or two from US and stay the fuck away from middle east.
Ah, I see, you’re driven by “what’s in it for me”, not by principles.
Well, by that logic, I as an EU citizen shouldn’t give a shit, since Russia hasn’t attacked the EU (at most they should get a proportional talkie-talkie response when they engage in talkie-talkie “aggression”) and meanwhile it’s more profitable for the EU to engage with China than it is to cut them of, and as for the rest of Europe (most notably Ukraine), well screw them same as the “screw Palestinians” of your position.
Even better, as a Portuguese and thus as far from Russia as possible whilst still being in Europe, by your “self interest” motivation I shouldn’t give a shit about Russia even if they invaded Eastern European EU countries.
Of course, me being a person of principles, I support Palestine against the Israeli Genocide same as I support Ukraine against Russia aggression (no need to feel personally endangered by either aggressor) and what I think the EU should do in the international plane follows from that, but that’s not at all your reason to wanting that Europe behaves towards China in a certain way.
China is not a Russian ally though. China is an opportunistic state. They make agreements and trade with anyone who they think will further their goals. Thus they trade with Russia because by doing so they gain influence in a diminishing state that controls a lot of resources (Russia’s far east is increasingly becoming Chinese by population and companies for a reason)
China doesn’t make friends, they make deals with anyone and everyone as long as they think it is positive for China.
I thought he was talking about the US😂
Fair, but shouldn’t the Netherlands or EU decide that, not the United States?
It’s pointless. They’ll just produce domestically whatever you refuse to sell them. And then ASML will lose its monopoly by having to compete with Chinese firms.
So your logic is “Give China everything they ask otherwise they will make their own and outcompete you”?
You know, that sounds awfully close to what Russians constantly say, but replace make with take
It’s not my logic, it’s what’s currently happening after the US imposed bans of certain technologies on China
You can’t do that. There is a reason only one company in the entire world can do it. It’s because it’s really hard to do and it is an iterative technology.
That reason is nobody has ever dumped a shitload of cash into it because it was cheaper to just buy from the company that already figured it out.
Well, now China has no other option other than trying to produce it.
Chinese firms are already trying to replicate it. Giving them one to study may just accelerate the process.
They’ve already tried that - they bought one, pulled it apart to see how it worked and couldn’t put it together again. There’s a Veritasium video about it.
It’s time to play the music It’s time to light the lights It’s time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight