China broke ASML lithography machine while trying to copy it

Here’s a story about how import substitution faced harsh reality. China tried to disassemble an ASML lithography machine of the DUV category to study its design. Result? They damaged the system and turned to ASML itself with a request to repair. The absurdity of the situation is off the charts.

Lithography machine — this is a machine that «prints» microscopic circuits on silicon wafers. Everything depends on its precision: how many transistors will fit on the chip, how powerful and energy-efficient it will be. ASML — Dutch company and the only manufacturer of such advanced lithography systems in the world. Without their technologies it’s impossible to produce modern processors for AI.

China seriously lags behind in manufacturing such machines and doesn’t have access to top systems due to US export restrictions.

And without such systems it’s impossible to create chips for modern AI.

This case showed a key thing. Advanced technologies are so fragile and complex that copying attempts easily end in failure. Dependence on the supplier is absolute — no ASML expertise, no repair, no production. And technological superiority in semiconductors is based not only on knowledge, but also on decades of engineering experience. Which is very difficult or impossible to simply and quickly copy.