US is facing backlash for pressuring its allies to limit cooperation with China

TO curb China's high-tech advancements, the United States has repeatedly pressured its allies, including the Netherlands, Japan and South Korea to further tighten restrictions on China's access to semiconductor technology. However, discontent is growing within these countries regarding Washington's increasing demands.

On Wednesday, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Dutch chip equipment giant ASML admitted that the US-led campaign to restrict the company's exports to customers in China in the name of national security has become more "economically motivated" over time. He acknowledged that proving these restrictions are about national security is getting harder and harder and expects push-back against US-led restrictions to grow.