Photo: AFP/Xinhua/Li Xueren
Eurasia
27/03/2024 19:15
Dutch chip-making machine supplier ASML is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of equipment to make state-of-the-art semiconductors, used in everything from mobile phones to cars.
The sector has become a key battleground in recent years, with the United States and some European countries blocking exports of high-tech chip technology to China over fears of military use.
ASML announced this year that it had been blocked from exporting “a small number” of its advanced machines to China, amid reports of US pressure on the Dutch government.
“There is no way out for ‘decoupling and breaking the chain,’ and opening-up and cooperation are the only choice,” the report quoted him as saying.
Rutte told reporters at a press conference that he couldn’t share details of what had been discussed around semiconductors.
“What I can tell you about our semiconductor sector and companies like ASML is that when we have to take measures that they are never aimed at one country specifically,” he said.
“We always try to make sure that the impact is limited, it’s not impacting the supply chain and therefore is not impacting, let’s say, the overall economic relationship.”
Memorials were held for the victims of the tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean region in 2004, killing more than 200,000 people in one of modern history’s worst natural disasters.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed on Friday the long-term adherence to "one country, two systems" as Macao celebrates a quarter-century of transformative success since its return to the motherland.
US President-elect Donald Trump has expressed confidence that China and the United States can collaborate to address global challenges. Earlier this week, Trump held his first press conference since the 5 November presidential election, during which he highlighted his positive relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.