As China and the United States compete for world supremacy, both countries are fixated on controlling the computing industry’s future. Semiconductors are shaping international politics, impacting the global economy, and affecting the balance of military power. What should we expect? Our Instaread on Chip War looks at the past, present, and future of this critical technology.
Risky Business
Silicon chips power every electronic device we use today, from smartphones to military weapons. Globalization and the offshoring of chip fabrication have created chip industry “choke points.” For the time being, many of them remain in American hands or with close US allies. But the rise of China’s semiconductor industry and the uncertain future of Taiwan may change things fast.
