I don't think people realize just how complicated these machines are. A remote off switch just works faster than the alternative. A steady stream of parts and experts from various locations around the world is required to keep these things operating smoothly.
Without the ASML service contract most would be unusable after a few months. The amount of technology brought to bear here is really only possible because of worldwide cooperation among thousands of vendors and tens of thousands of engineers. These machines are an extension of some pretty impressive institutions (ASML corp, for example), not just metal and glass.
If China were to invade and if Taiwan or the US fought back, we would all be in a world of hurt, economically. Taiwan makes most of the high end logic chips the world uses, and China makes many of the lower tier, but still necessary chips for things like power management, etc. With sources for these devices offline, a lot of economic activity would begin to halt. We really must avoid war at all costs.
Without the ASML service contract most would be unusable after a few months. The amount of technology brought to bear here is really only possible because of worldwide cooperation among thousands of vendors and tens of thousands of engineers. These machines are an extension of some pretty impressive institutions (ASML corp, for example), not just metal and glass.
If China were to invade and if Taiwan or the US fought back, we would all be in a world of hurt, economically. Taiwan makes most of the high end logic chips the world uses, and China makes many of the lower tier, but still necessary chips for things like power management, etc. With sources for these devices offline, a lot of economic activity would begin to halt. We really must avoid war at all costs.