2/ The reason Chinese techs disassembled their older ASML DUV machine is because they are desperately trying to evade the US sanctions imposed upon them for the newest ASML-type machines. By disassembling their older one & trying to reassemble it, Chinese techs learn.

3/ They are trying to reverse-engineer what they have as a means of figuring out how to indigenously build their own, more advanced versions, to end-run the US sanctioned machines. But they can't figure it out, apparently.

4/ I've no idea if ASML followed through and repaired the system. While China has an agreement with the Dutch firm for repair, I can't imagine the contract would be honored considering foul play on the part of the customer (China) was involved in the machine's breakdown.

5/ China does many things right. That's what makes them a real challenger unlike anything we've had probably since Hitler's Germany. BUT they're still human. And this may have jacked up their entire scheme to end-run the Western sanctions.

6/ Beijing is growing more desperate. Indeed, we know that their economy is slowing down (this DOES NOT mean "China is collapsing." It just means the gov there is hitting some unintended brick walls, making them more dangerous). Xi's rule has been tenuous since COVID.

7/ The tech curbs are doing more damage than previously anticipated. All this leads to the likelihood that China will seek to exert control in a military domain if they cannot in the economic and/or technical ones.

8/ Something else to consider: this means that their Rare Earth Mineral play is their big move. Which means that if the Trump team can overcome it (thus far, they can't), it's going to force a more kinetic retaliation from Beijing sooner than expected.

To understand the trade war, please see my friend @DanCollins2011 recent interview with me while I filled in for @EmeraldRobinson last week on @RealLindellTV

@WeTheBrandon Apparently trust me bro Reddit

@chinafutureclub Lol. Bye!

@WeTheBrandon @HansMahncke They’re equally adept at playing stupid. I wouldn’t put it past them to pretend like they couldn’t reassemble it completely. And we know they’ve exfiltrated information from “secured” sharepoint sites. How much of that info remains compartmentalized across their state-run

@BeeKneeCards @HansMahncke Legit point.

@WeTheBrandon Funny US prevents something that it doesnt even owned from going to China. Sounds like imperialism

@ILuvXiJinping Absolutely.

@WeTheBrandon @threadreaderapp unroll

@skingers @threadreaderapp

@WeTheBrandon The thing is, the brain does not thrive if it is not free. The part of the brain that creates, dies. That's why China never invents anything.

@WeTheBrandon Didn't the Dutch just take over that company?

@WeTheBrandon interesting

@WeTheBrandon So adding to any ‘self justification’ they might need to go for Taiwan sooner rather than later….?

@WeTheBrandon Source: apparently trust me bro.

@WeTheBrandon These are the most sophisticated machines on earth. It’s not just about seeing parts, it’s about knowing micron-level tolerances, exotic chemistries and lithography stacks to create sub-chips for components… Good luck.

@WeTheBrandon Americans are now resorting to fantasizing escapism stories to cope with their mental contradictions against reality. Well i guess it's better then fentanyl right?

@WeTheBrandon This is a story that has being doing the rounds since 2023. There is zero evidence that it is true. Had it really happened, there would be court cases and court documentation to support it.

@WeTheBrandon you made up this shit

@WeTheBrandon Source : I made it the fuck up

@WeTheBrandon we should cut them completely off. they steal everything. they have no respect for IP and there is no recourse.

@WeTheBrandon I am wondering if ASML protection into its machines so that it would stop functioning if it has been tampered with. Russians would often fuse essential part of their fighter engine sold to the Chinese, so any attempt to take it apart would render it nonfunctional.

@WeTheBrandon I.P. theft is “the” reason for china’s ascendancy.

@WeTheBrandon I would think that Chinese have disassembled the machine many years ago. Why wait til now? That doesn't make any sense. Also, how do you know they haven't figured it out?

@WeTheBrandon Ill take "Shit that never happened" for 200 Alex

@WeTheBrandon It happens all the time. I worked for a partner of a German company that sells compressors for A/C. A Chinese company bought one, and the Germans sent their engineers to help them install the compressors. When the Germans arrived, the compressor was disassembled and measured.

@WeTheBrandon To be fair US companies do this sort of thing too. I know of a particular case where one didn't even buy a product from the competitor, but rented it, completely disassembled and measured/catalogued every piece/fastener, put it back together and returned it to the rental house.

@WeTheBrandon Been going on for 5 decades. Reverse engineering. Don't repair it.