China targets chokepoint materials to break US-Japan photoresist dominance
Original framing: “China, US end trade talks in Paris; chip self-sufficiency drive: SCMP’s 7 highlights” — South China Morning Post
China's current push for semiconductor self-sufficiency echoes earlier 20th-century industrialization strategies in Japan and South Korea, where state-led development was key to overcoming Western technological dominance. These historical parallels reveal a pattern of strategic, long-term planning rather than reactive competition.
China's targeted push into photoresist production reflects a strategic shift from broad self-sufficiency goals to precision disruption of supply chokepoints controlled by the US and Japan.
This move is part of a broader global trend where nations are reasserting control over critical industries in response to Western-dominated globalization and export controls. Historically, similar strategies were employed by Japan and South Korea, suggesting a pattern of state-led industrialization. However, the current narrative often overlooks the role of indigenous knowledge systems and the environmental and labor costs of such technological ambitions. A cross-cultural perspective reveals that many non-Western nations view technology as a means of reclaiming agency rather than merely competing in a global race. To move forward, systemic solutions must include global supply chain resilience, open-source research, and the integration of marginalized voices to ensure equitable and sustainable development.