Are‘t that the whole point?
When I say catch up, including the US, I meant having independent IP and suppliers on the entire process without using any foreign technology that has no domestic equivalents. From sand to chips, you build everything, all your tools, and tools that make your tools, including software, specialized material, gas, chemical solutions, etc. China is certainly doing that. EUV basic research is gonna take time, that’s why I said 15 years. They have the brains, the money, the supply chain, the political will, and the manpower though. If any country that has any hope of pulling that off flying solo, it’s gotta be China.