The chip monopoly just got challenged. This isn’t noise — this is a long game move. 🧠⚙️
🇨🇳 China has reportedly built a prototype EUV lithography machine — the most critical tool for advanced chipmaking. Until now, that door was controlled almost entirely by ASML.
Why this matters now: EUV isn’t just hardware — it’s the choke point of modern technology. AI chips, data centers, defense systems, everything runs through it. China even testing EUV light generation signals a serious shift from dependency to strategic self-reliance.
This wasn’t overnight. It’s the payoff of a 6-year state-backed program, often described internally as China’s “Manhattan Project” for semiconductors. Former ASML expertise, domestic suppliers, and Huawei coordinating across labs — this is system-level execution.
Important detail: No working chips yet. Timelines being discussed are 2028–2030. That tells you this isn’t hype — it’s patient industrial warfare.
Market takeaway: Supply chains don’t reprice on headlines — they reprice on credibility. If this effort progresses, it reshapes geopolitics, tech leverage, and long-term capital flows in semis.
Not a conclusion — but a line has clearly been crossed. #china