According to Bloomberg, Germany is quietly assessing China's economic vulnerabilities to identify areas that could hinder China's chip manufacturing industry. This week, China began producing semiconductor lithography machines for the first time.
Potential pressure points include Trumpf SE and Carl Zeiss AG, whose technologies are used by ASML in manufacturing advanced semiconductor fabrication equipment.
The related assessment also highlights that companies such as Siltronic AG, Aixtron SE, and SUSS MicroTec SE occupy critical positions in the semiconductor supply chain. Officials are also reviewing China’s reliance on semiconductor equipment, industrial lasers, specialty chemicals, and advanced medical products.
China: Focused on self-upgrading.
Germany: Focused on dragging others down, just so its mediocrity doesn't look so embarrassing.
All they're doing is exposing themselves to China's "retaliation," like a failing student trying to trip the top performer in class.
When you’re incapable and out of options, then American former figure skater Tonya Harding is your role model.
It is precisely Western arrogance that is steadily pushing China to become stronger.
And yet, still dreaming of being long-term winners?
Are Western countries like Germany spending their days thinking how to slow China down instead of helping their own people?
This also reflects the essence of Western politicians—they rely on big donors to fund their campaigns, and once elected, must repay those donations, while the voters who put them in power are forgotten.
Can slowing China down provide an excuse to their citizens? Can it make them appear not to be falling behind?
Is breaking someone else’s leg easier than working harder?
Or do they hope China will grow strong through Western-style democracy and freedom rather than through technological advancement—leaving technological breakthroughs for the West?
What kind of logic is this?
Why not stop wasting energy trying to sabotage others and instead genuinely improve your own technology and competitiveness?
Only then might Germany finally make real progress.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872012977443840/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.