Chapter 51: Announcing the News, the World Shocked

Several hours later.

Yanhuang Guo, through its official news release channel, dropped a bombshell piece of news onto the world.

According to this station's report, our country has achieved a major breakthrough in the core technology field of semiconductor manufacturing; the research team successfully independently developed and produced an EUV lithography machine with 1-nanometer process capability.

The first batch of prototype machines has passed all performance tests, with all indicators meeting and partly exceeding international leading levels.

This marks that our country, in the high-end chip manufacturing field, has completely broken foreign technological monopolies and achieved full autonomous control of key equipment.

Upon release of this news, it was like a nuclear bomb detonating worldwide.

At first, for a few minutes, the world was silent.

Editors of major news agencies, looking at this message from Yanhuang Guo's official channel, first reacted: "Did the translation software go wrong?"

Or "Is today April Fools' Day? But Yanhuang Guo doesn't observe this holiday!"

After repeatedly confirming the news source was correct, they instantly went numb.

Next came the scientific and political communities of various countries.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

The president of a well-known science and technology university in Third Brother Country, after seeing this news on a TV broadcast, jumped up excitedly from his chair, pointing at the screen, spittle flying,

"They're lying! They're bragging! 1-nanometer? Only a god could do that! They can't even afford tea eggs, how could they possibly make a 1-nanometer lithography machine?"

"This is definitely a plot by Yanhuang Guo; they want to swindle our investment!"

This president's remarks were quickly taken as truth by his domestic media.

For a time, the 'Yanhuang Guo technology fraud theory' gained approval from most of their domestic populace.

Online, the netizens of Third Brother Country went even further, unleashing their wild imaginations.

"I guess they took apart discarded secondhand tractor parts from us, painted them white, and called it a lithography machine!"

"Haha, the truth upstairs! Maybe the core components are made of cow dung—eco-friendly and energy-saving!"

"Shocking! Yanhuang Guo announces driving the lithography machine with yoga, precision up to 1 nanometer!"

……

In the Western world, however, the feelings of doubt and shock were more complex.

"1-nanometer? Just a few months ago they were worrying about whether they could buy a 4-nanometer lithography machine, and now they've made their own 1-nanometer one? Is this a sci-fi movie?"

——An anonymous user on a certain Western technology forum.

"I reserve judgment; Yanhuang Guo has indeed made rapid progress in some fields, but the lithography machine is the jewel in the crown of industry—I don't think they can overcome all technical barriers in such a short time; perhaps it's just a lab sample, still far from mass production."

An unnamed semiconductor analyst from O Zhou.

By contrast, inside Yanhuang Guo, it was a boiling sea; the vast majority of people, after the initial shock, felt an indescribable pride and ecstasy.

"Awesome! My country!"

"In my lifetime series! Finally no longer having to watch others' faces!"

"Hahaha, let those who choke us cry!"

"Our mom is awesome! I don't know which great deity's hand it came from."

This comment unexpectedly received many likes.

On social media, various celebratory emojis and jokes kept emerging.

Someone dug up old news mocking Yanhuang Guo for being unable to make ballpoint pen refills or toilet lids, and placed it alongside today's news of the 1-nanometer lithography machine, forming a stark contrast that made people sigh with emotion and feel exhilarated.

Of course, not all voices were harmonious.

Some who have long been active online, taking pleasure in belittling their own country—the 'public intellectuals,' 'big Vs,' and those traitorous lackeys lurking in the shadows—also jumped out.

"Heh, here we go blowing again—forgot the 'Han Xin' incident last time? Sitting here waiting for a face-slap."

"Where's the data? Where's the physical object? Just talking big? Don't tell me this is another scam for funding."

"I think it's just a dummy model, empty inside, meant to fool laypeople."

"Wake up! They've been ahead of us by decades; how could we possibly overtake them overnight? Surely they stole the technology!"

These sarcastic remarks naturally provoked a strong backlash from broad patriotic netizens.

"You upstairs, have you been kneeling so long you can't stand up? Your own country achieves success, and that just makes you uncomfortable?"

"Han Xin is Han Xin, now is now! Our researchers have endured hardship for years, and you lot, just flapping your gums, deny everything?"

"Those claiming technology theft, produce evidence! Otherwise it's just slander and defamation!"

For a time, on Yanhuang Guo's internet, the verbal war over the 1-nanometer lithography machine reached an intensity hardly inferior to a real battle.

Various technical analysis posts, science popularization posts, conspiracy theory posts, and rebuttal posts kept emerging, pushing the event's heat to its peak.

And just as global public opinion was in an uproar, Yingjiang Guo took the lead in launching an attack.

Its Ministry of Commerce and the Secretary of State's Office, six hours after Yanhuang Guo's official announcement, jointly held a press conference.

The Yingjiang Guo Secretary of State stood behind the podium, face grim, tone firm:

"We have noted the statement issued by Yanhuang Guo regarding its lithography technology, and we express serious concern."

"For a long time, Yanhuang Guo, through various improper means—including cyber espionage, forced technology transfer, and bribery of researchers—has systematically stolen other countries' intellectual property."

"This so-called breakthrough of their '1-nanometer lithography machine' is highly likely to have been achieved on the basis of stealing core technology from us and our allies."

"We strongly condemn this and reserve the right to take any necessary measures to protect our technological achievements and national security!"

Close on its heels, the O Zhou Alliance also issued a statement; although the wording was relatively mild, the core meaning was the same as Yingjiang Guo's, full of accusations and implications that Yanhuang Guo had plagiarized technology.

For a time, international public opinion shifted dramatically.

"The 'Yanhuang Guo stole technology' theory"

Under the push of Western mainstream media, it quickly occupied the headlines.

Faced with this sudden surge of accusations and smears, Yanhuang Guo Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Han Ge gave a composed response at that day's regular press conference.

Han Ge, smiling faintly, spoke calmly: "We have noticed that certain countries have made baseless accusations and malicious speculation about our nation's scientific achievements."

In response, we only want to say, using a petty person's heart to measure a gentleman's belly is not feasible."

"Every advancement in Yanhuang Guo's technological field embodies the wisdom and sweat of our scientific researchers; it is the result of our self-reliance and arduous struggle.

For those countries accustomed to technological monopolies, begrudging others' success, we offer this advice: rather than exhausting efforts to slander and suppress, it is better to devote energy to improving one's own technological level."

"In order to respond to international concerns, dispel unnecessary doubts, and also to let everyone more intuitively understand the truth of the matter, our country's relevant departments have decided to hold a special press conference at the National Capital News Center at 8 a. m. tomorrow morning, and to conduct a global simultaneous live broadcast."

"At that time, we will invite major domestic and international media journalists to participate, and will answer questions raised on the spot. We welcome all media that maintain an objective and fair attitude to come and witness together."

Upon saying this, the entire venue erupted in an uproar.

The Western reporters who had originally prepared sharp questions looked at each other in dismay.

On-site Q&A? Global live broadcast?

This…… Is Yanhuang Guo really playing for real this time? Where do they get their confidence?