Recently, the news of a high-level visit to the Netherlands by a South Korean leader has attracted widespread attention. This is the first high-level visit to the Netherlands by a South Korean executive since 1961 to solve the problem of shipping ASML lithography machines. In the past, South Korea and ASML have used the United States as a "middleman" in deals, but this time South Korea is determined to get rid of the middleman and seek direct cooperation. During the visit to the Netherlands, the leaders of South Korea and the Netherlands fully exchanged their willingness to cooperate, and then the heads of Samsung and SK hynix will also go to the Netherlands to meet with the CEO of ASML to discuss the follow-up cooperation. The success of South Korea's "de-beautification" program has become the focus of attention.
The global semiconductor industry has fallen into chaos after Biden accelerated the "chip rule". Although this rule appears to be a ban on Chinese semiconductors, its impact has rippled through the entire market. South Korean companies are the most affected, with high-end chips difficult to ship, and low-end chips that are not supported by Chinese demand. As South Korea's semiconductor industry, which is highly dependent on orders from China, it is urgent to get rid of the "middleman".
South Korea has a strength to be reckoned with in the field of semiconductors, which is why the United States has always treated it with courtesy. Samsung has a 3nm process technology comparable to TSMC, which is remarkable enough in the industry. In the face of Biden's persecution, South Korea's top leaders began to act.
After China's independence in the field of semiconductors has achieved certain results, it has broken the "hegemony" of the United States in the field of semiconductors and opened a channel for countries to get rid of their dependence on the United States. The European Union has launched a chip subsidy program, hoping to promote the development of the global semiconductor industry to gain more voice. However, the EU's attitude was not resolute and wavered in its resolve under the lobby of the United States. South Korea, by contrast, has a better chance of escaping the technological grip of American companies.
South Korea made it clear that it refused to join the "Chip Quadripartite Alliance", thus beginning the "de-beautification" of technology. Samsung's hard power in the industry forces it to approach TSMC's position, but it must acquire enough EUV lithography machines to surpass its rivals by 2030. Faced with the dilemma of losing orders from China, South Korea resolutely decided to abandon its hesitant attitude in the past and actively lay out.
South Korea Semiconductor has a complete industrial chain, and the only thing missing is lithography machine production capacity. The Dutch ASML became a top priority, because the Netherlands has long been dissatisfied with the United States, and the two sides naturally reached a consensus on the attitude of "de-beautification". The ROK's high-level officials personally went to the Netherlands to discuss cooperation and showed full sincerity. Samsung and SK hynix are also steadfast in their attitude towards the development of the Chinese market and are inclined to establish advanced process technology in the mainland to gain more market share.
The Netherlands plays an important role in the tripartite agreement between the United States, Japan and the Netherlands. Once the Dutch repudiation ban is implemented, the US plan will be self-defeating. The Netherlands has repeatedly stressed that it will stand by ASML's interests, and that the value that the Chinese market can provide is unlimited. The choice of the Netherlands is clear.
Even American companies have begun to oppose the water chip rule, and Biden seems to be "lingering". What do you think about this phenomenon?
This article examines the determination of Korean companies to get rid of the "middleman", the chaos of the global semiconductor industry, the importance of the semiconductor field, the impact of China's independence, the clear attitude of South Korea, the choice of important partners, and the important role of the Netherlands. From these discussions, it can be seen that South Korean companies are moving aggressively on the road to breaking away from the control of US technology and seeking cooperation with important partners such as the Dutch ASML. In the chaos of the global semiconductor industry, the attitude of the Netherlands will play a key role. Finally, even American companies are "anti-water" chip rules, which shows that Biden's approach may not be popular. These questions are worth thinking about and finding better solutions.