They always wanted to, but Chinese companies didn't cooperate because market incentives were lacking. Chinese fabs wanted to buy the best international equipment and shunned Chinese toolmakers. Chinese toolmakers never had a chance to break through to large market share. Until now: the sanctions gave toolmakers a captive market.
Chinese toolmakers sucked because they didn't have market share and lacked practice. With a captive market, they finally have customers to practice on. This learning-by-doing cycle is what allows them to rapidly improve their quality, something they couldn't do before.
The sanctions hurt short-term, but also gave them a long-term opportunity which they didn't have before.
Chinese toolmakers sucked because they didn't have market share and lacked practice. With a captive market, they finally have customers to practice on. This learning-by-doing cycle is what allows them to rapidly improve their quality, something they couldn't do before.
The sanctions hurt short-term, but also gave them a long-term opportunity which they didn't have before.