I just finished Chip War by Chris Miller. The implication is that chip-making and or design companies in partial close ties with nations (Chine, US, Europe, and Taiwan) are in a race for dominance in a world where a new chip factory for new designs costs past 30 billion US and photolithography cameras cost half a billion.
These companies are desperate, and, with their countries, to dominate the future chip world. (which is more ubiquitous than any of us seem to know) Why? Profit and military dominance. Besides, you need a career.
The problem is that all players are looking for any way to escalate, and controlling Taiwan might be central. Dominance is the goal and any - any - software, chip-making machine,, money pile, regulation, sabotage, hacking that can create potential dominance is sought after. We might be lucky that Taiwan is central to the economies of all the major players, so they are desperate to “win” as we all lose. There seems to be no other counterforce to this existential escalation. And the book never discusses the impact of climate change.
The role of capital, ownership and profit seeking, is also crucial, and will be my next post.