User:Billybinn/Lythography wars

The Lithography Wars refers to the geopolitical and economic struggle involving various global powers and corporate entities, particularly between the United States and China, and companies like ASML and TSMC. These conflicts are centered around the production and control of advanced semiconductor lithography technology, a key factor in the global technology supply chain.

Background
Semiconductor lithography is the process of creating intricate patterns on a silicon wafer to create microchips. This technology is foundational to modern electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, and advanced military equipment. The manufacturing process employs extremely sophisticated technology, notably Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUV), a technology owned by the Dutch company ASML.

ASML
ASML, a Netherlands-based company, is the world's only manufacturer of EUV lithography machines, which are essential for creating advanced semiconductors. Despite its European base, ASML has found itself at the center of tensions between the U.S. and China due to its unique and globally critical manufacturing capabilities.

TSMC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is the world's largest dedicated independent (pure-play) semiconductor foundry, supplying many of the world's top tech firms. TSMC relies on ASML's machinery for its production process, placing it within the sphere of the lithography wars.

United States
The U.S. has attempted to limit China's access to advanced semiconductor technology over concerns about national security and technological competition. This has included pressuring allies like the Netherlands to restrict the sale of critical machinery, like ASML's lithography machines, to China.

China
China, a major global player in the tech industry, relies heavily on imported semiconductor technology. In recent years, it has aimed to boost its domestic chip industry to reduce this dependence. However, U.S. restrictions have limited China's access to critical technologies, making it a central player in the lithography wars.

Impact and developments
The lithography wars have had substantial impacts on global trade, technology supply chains, and geopolitical relationships. They have intensified tensions between the U.S. and China, complicated relationships between the U.S. and its allies, and underscored the strategic importance of advanced technology.

Notably, the lithography wars have spurred efforts in China to develop domestic alternatives to imported semiconductor technology. They've also forced companies like ASML and countries like the Netherlands to navigate the complex landscape of geopolitical pressure and economic interests.

In 2021–2022, President Joe Biden has urged the Dutch government to limit exports of a particular machine made by the company ASML to China. This machine is vital in the manufacturing of advanced chips, like those found in Apple's iPhones. Tufts professor Chris Miller, author of Chip War: The Fight For The World’s Most Critical Technology, elaborates that the U.S. is seeking to inhibit China's development of AI systems by blocking its access to these advanced semiconductors. The process of manufacturing such chips involves EUV lithography, a technology that originated in the U.S., but was ultimately commercialized by ASML. EUV lithography involves the use of extreme ultraviolet light to carve tiny circuits onto chips, a process that requires the flattest mirrors and the production of light at an extremely small wavelength. The entire process involves highly sophisticated technology and is critical to the functioning of modern tech devices.

In late 2022, The Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher has affirmed that the Netherlands will safeguard its economic interests pertaining to the sales of chip equipment to China, despite escalating US pressure. The Netherlands, which houses world-leading chip company ASML, is unlikely to yield to US coercion, potentially influencing other countries such as Japan. This follows after President Biden called on allies to support a broader ban on advanced chip exports to China. Schreinemacher emphasized the importance of protecting national safety and economic interests, cautioning that the Netherlands would be worse off if it succumbs to US trade rule demands. Observers suggest that the Netherlands' stance echoes a growing dissatisfaction among US allies and is likely to influence other nations to resist US pressure.