Post by : Bianca
Haleem
A recent investigation by Dutch television has revealed that ASML — the foremost provider of semiconductor manufacturing equipment — sold parts to at least one firm in China associated with the military. Reports indicate that this buyer is a subsidiary of China Electronics Technology Group, a state-owned conglomerate engaged in defense and electronics, supplying the Chinese military.
Evidence sourced from Chinese import/export records shows that ASML also sold equipment to various Chinese organizations last year, including Shenzhen International Quantum Academy and the chipmakers SiEn (Qingdao) and Semiconductor Manufacturing Beijing Corporation (SMBC), a division of SMIC.
While ASML does not publicly disclose its clientele, the firm responded to these findings by affirming its compliance with all export regulations, emphasizing that any equipment sold was either licensed or not subject to restrictions.
This development is particularly noteworthy as China constituted approximately 36% of ASML's global sales in 2024, translating to nearly €10 billion.
ASML maintains that it did not sell its most advanced lithography machines (EUV) to China, arguing that the equipment delivered cannot be utilized in advanced chip manufacturing. However, critics contend that even "older" machinery could significantly enhance China's semiconductor production capabilities, with possible applications in dual-use technologies.
This situation underscores increasing global scrutiny regarding supply chain transparency within the semiconductor sector, particularly concerning the potential transfer of sensitive technologies to defense-related entities.
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