In a recent interview with Dutch radio station BNR, the former CEO of semiconductor equipment maker ASML remarked that the U.S.-China disputes over computer chips are ideological rather than factual, and are expected to persist.
Peter Wennink, who retired in April after a decade leading ASML to become Europe’s largest technology firm, highlighted the increasing restrictions imposed by the U.S. since 2018 on the company’s exports to China, its second-largest market after Taiwan, citing security concerns. The U.S. has recently moved to restrict ASML from servicing equipment already sold to Chinese customers.
“These discussions aren’t based on facts, content, numbers, or data, but on ideology,” Wennink stated. “As a business, we must balance the interests of our stakeholders. When ideology overrides this balance, it becomes problematic.”
Wennink emphasized ASML’s longstanding presence in China, spanning three decades, which entails obligations to customers and staff. He noted efforts to advocate against overly stringent export restrictions while addressing concerns about intellectual property with Chinese officials.
“In Washington, there may have been perceptions that I’m pro-China,” Wennink clarified. “But I prioritize our customers, suppliers, employees, and shareholders above all.”
Given the high stakes of geopolitical interests, Wennink predicted that the chip conflict could extend over decades. “This is a prolonged situation,” he concluded.
