As someone who's worked in semiconductors... [citation needed] on that claim.

>If the EU plays hardball to too great an extent, other countries will replicate the research.

If they could have, they would have. Many have been trying, and still are.

>China will already have started their attempts.

Not "will have". China has been trying to catch up for many years.

> The EU does not have a track record of staying ahead when they tangle with Asians for tech manufacturing supremacy.

You're just lumping "Asians" into one group, aren't you? China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea have very different strengths.

>The EU can't parlay a temporary monopoly held by one manufacturing company into a useful strategic edge.

Oh they absolutely can. So can Taiwan (and does so pretty successfully).