Chinese President Xi Jinping told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is visiting China, today that all attempts by the West to limit access to technology will fail to stop China's progress.
In 2023, the Netherlands imposed export license requirements for the sale of machines that can make advanced processor chips. The move comes after the US blocked Chinese access to advanced chips and equipment to make them, citing security reasons, and urged its allies to do the same.
The Dutch company ASML is the world's only manufacturer of machines that use extreme ultraviolet lithography for the production of advanced semiconductors. China became ASML's second largest market in 2023, accounting for 29 percent of revenue as Chinese companies bought equipment before the licensing requirement took effect.
ASML, the Netherlands' largest company, recently threatened to leave the country over anti-immigration policies that may affect the company's ability to hire this tech talent, leaving government officials scrambling to keep the firm out of the country.
The report by state broadcaster CCTV did not mention the chip machine, but quoted Xi as saying that creating scientific and technological restrictions would lead to division and confrontation.
Beijing has repeatedly accused the official Washington of trying to prevent China's economic development by limiting access to high technology. As a sort of response to that, Si launched a campaign to develop domestic chips and other high-tech products.
NATO and its growing ties with Asia will also be a topic of today's talks. Rute is the leading candidate to become the next head of NATO, an organization criticized by China for stoking regional tensions and encroaching on the Asia-Pacific region.
Bonus video:
