ASML dismisses US accusations that sensitive chip making gear was sent to China as executives rebut claims of unauthorized EUV system operation within Chinese borders
ASML dismisses US accusations that sensitive chip making gear was sent to China A key supplier to the global semiconductor industry has rebutted accusations from the US that some of its advanced manufacturing equipment has found its way to China against international sanctions. The allegations are understood to have been raised with executives at The Netherlands based company in private by visiting U. S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He told ASML executives that there were concerns a high end ultraviolet (EUV) photolithography machine was potentially in operation within China’s borders, reported DutchNews.nl and Bloomberg.
The machines, known as EUV systems, are the state of the art in chip making. They are exclusively manufactured by ASML, the most valuable publicly traded company in the Netherlands. Advanced semiconductors built using the technology drive consumer electronics and AI hardware. After meeting the company's management, an ASML statement categorically rejected that any such technology or related hardware had been inappropriately transmitted or handled in China.
'ASML has never shipped an EUV machine to China, nor have we shipped to China any component, module or equipment specially designed to be used in an EUV machine.'
To underscore the company's assertion, ASML pointed to the sheer physical nature of EUV equipment. One unit is equivalent in size to a single family home and weighs approximately 180 metric tons. Given that they are produced in very low volumes and require highly specialized technicians for maintenance, it would be practically impossible for such a system to be moved to another location and put into operation without ASML being immediately alerted, said the statement.
No firm evidence has been provided to support the U. S. Government’s allegations. The U. S. Department of Commerce did not offer any proof or confirm that intelligence was available that placed an operational EUV machine within China, the Bloomberg report indicated. While anonymous officials quoted in the report alluded to the examination of shipment data for equipment related to EUV systems that raised suspicion, no further details were released due to national security concerns.
The geopolitical tensions around semiconductor technology escalated several years ago when the US government initially pushed The Hague to limit the export of EUV machines to China. The Dutch later also banned the sale of the next tier of ASML hardware, known as DUV systems, the government’s partnership with the US and Japan eventually leading to export licenses for two DUV systems bound for Chinese buyers being revoked. Despite the short term downturn in ASML’s stock price due to the latest news, the company leadership have downplayed the long term economic impact of export controls as demand from other regions helps to offset lost sales to China, the publication noted.
