The moment China produces its first class-leading semiconductor node they're gonna pounce on Taiwan immediately, because that leaves everyone else behind.
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
16 points (100.0% liked)
Geopolitics
519 readers
1 users here now
A discussion of geopolitical trends from history and today.
geopolitics (jē″ō-pŏl′ĭ-tĭks) noun
The study of the relationship among politics and geography, demography, and economics, especially with respect to the foreign policy of a nation.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
I would think that would lessen the need for Taiwan's advanced fabs, but I guess it depends on if you think they are taking Taiwan to have the fabs or to deny the fabs to everyone else.
Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, AMD and Intel are using TSMC to produce some, most or all of their chips currently. Shutting down TSMC or controlling its allocation will hurt many countries right now.
Seeing as TSMC is currently scaling up fab production in the US with their new fabs means they're feeling that pressure and made the deal with the promise of US protecting them.
However, seeing as the current US administration is all over the place and Nvidia started selling to China again, I wouldn't count on US risking all out war to protect Taiwan anymore.
Seeing as TSMC is currently scaling up fab production in the US with their new fabs means they’re feeling that pressure and made the deal with the promise of US protecting them.
Context for anyone wondering: These new fabs will NOT being using their latest 2nm processes, but their 4nm FinFET process. Meaning we'll still be reliant on Taiwan itself for their latest and greatest.
I think if the choice is to not have modern chips, they will go to war. Chips are too strategic these days in too many domains including military.
It’s so wild how every English speaking country focuses on chinas relationship with Taiwan.
Firstly, I don't know why English speaking countries are relevant when the article is about Japanese companies with people/assets in Taiwan preparing for an invasion scenario.
Secondly, it's not wild at all that any country with substantial investments in Taiwan would be worried about China's relationship with Taiwan. The China-Taiwan situation has become very tense in recent years, while the world economy has only become more dependent on Taiwan's semiconductor industry and, consequently, on Taiwan's political situation.
If we compare this to the US involvement in Guatamala to protect United Fruit Co's banana production, this is substantially less wild.
Gotta have those chips!
When I see a bully kick a kid. I also prefer to remain silent.
Even better, when people start talking about this bully kicking the kid, I go online and imply that that's nobody's business.