The Dutch government announced Wednesday, March 8 to curb the export to China of technologies for the manufacture of electronic chips. A far from trivial choice for the European leader in chip manufacturing machines.
” The government has come to the conclusion that it is necessary for international and national security to extend the current export control of materials for the production of specific semiconductors said Dutch Foreign Minister Liesje Schreinemacher in a letter to Parliament.
In fact, with this decision, the Netherlands is taking a stand for the United States in the chip war between Washington and Beijing. This war, it is the American president started it several months ago already by multiplying the sanctions against Chinese chip manufacturers.
The announcement by the Dutch government also comes less than two months after the meeting in Washington between Prime Minister Mark Rutte and President Joe Biden, during which the issue was discussed.
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Slowing down Chinese technological advances
The objective clearly displayed by Washington is to limit China’s ability to acquire and manufacture certain high-end chips, in other words to curb Chinese technological advances in the military and in the field of telecommunications.
With the Dutch decision, it’s done. The Netherlands is indeed the European leader in machines for the manufacture of chips, precisely essential for the manufacture of smartphones, connected cars, but also military equipment. The export restrictions are expected to affect the Dutch group ASML, Europe’s largest manufacturer of machines that produce semiconductors.
On Tuesday March 7, China accused the United States of stoking tensions between the two powers and warned of the risk of “ conflict ” and of ” showdown “.
► To read also: China warns US of risk of conflict without change of posture