Dutch slap new restrictions on chips exports to China
The Hague follows Washington’s lead in stopping advanced tech exports.
The Netherlands/ASML has no choice. The US is threathening NL with trade allegation, because the US fears the Chinese's technical advances.
Back when China was the low cost manufacturing center for the global system, 'free trade' was all the rage. Now that China's economy is displacing the US/GB axis as the center of the global system, suddenly free trade is not such a good idea.
I think the issue is that china doesn't follow a "live and let live" policy in any way. The west decided to trade with china, and let it do its own thing within its borders, to the point of turning a blind eye to human rights violations and blatant theft of western innovation and IP.
Now that china have grown large enough to throw their weight around, they are violating the integrity of other countries, to the point of "covertly" arresting people outside their own borders. They also use their new-found position to pressure or punish anyone that allows citizens or organisations in their country to criticise china.
If they can't play by the rules, they shouldn't be allowed to partake in the goods of a free, open society.