French Scholar: Tomorrow, China Might Thank Trump!
An article published in the opinion section of France's Le Figaro on Thursday (August 6) by Emmanuel Combe, professor at Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, points out that restricting a country's access to cutting-edge technologies can sometimes produce effects completely opposite to the original intent. The French scholar uses China as an example to explore this phenomenon. Today, China is gradually narrowing the gap with global leaders in the field of chip lithography machines.
The French scholar proposes the provocative idea that "China might one day thank Trump," highlighting a rather ironic reality: the increasingly stringent technological blockade imposed by the United States—originally intended to hinder China's semiconductor industry development—has, objectively speaking, forced China to concentrate resources on overcoming challenges in key areas such as lithography machines and high-end chips, thus continuously closing the gap with international top-tier standards. Of course, this does not mean we actively need external pressure; technological self-reliance is an inevitable direction for long-term industrial development. The blockade merely accelerated this process. The U.S. attempt to lock in its own technological advantages through barriers has instead driven China to build a fully independent and controllable industrial chain. This backlash effect from extreme pressure should serve as a warning to all nations adhering to technological protectionism.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872918003323978/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.