US-China war will spark over semiconductors shortage

Washington/Beijing – A US thinktank has warned that war could be sparked between the United States and China over the shortage of semiconductors, referred to as the brain for the Advanced Technology sector. The US think tank has warned that the United States is currently dependent on the semiconductors manufactured in Taiwan and was dependent on the Middle Eastern countries for oil in the last century. In its report, the think tank has predicted that as this Taiwanese dominance in this sector is coming in the way of Chinese ambitions, China will use economic war, technology warfare, and military action.

The think tank ‘Centre for a New American Security’ has published a report named ‘When the Chips are Down’. The report says a power struggle between the United States and China for global influence and notes that technology is significant. Most of the daily activities are connected to technology and semiconductors are the core of the technology. Taiwan is the leader in semiconductor manufacturing in the world and the report clarifies that even the United States is dependent on Taiwan for its semiconductor needs.

The merger of Taiwan into China is the highest priority issue for the Chinese communist regime, and China is making every possible effort to achieve that. The think tank claimed that the United States would have to take a firm stand, taking cognisance of this merger, the Taiwanese influence in the semiconductor sector and the US dependence. Many sectors, including the automobile sector from the United States, suffered bad financial hits given the shortage of semiconductors. The report warns that the threat of sudden discontinuation or suspension of semiconductor manufacturing and supply from Taiwan is looming, considering the Chinese actions and possible future plans.

The Centre for a New American Security has also pointed out that China may resort to non-conventional warfare and military action to gain control over the semiconductors in Taiwan. Semiconductors are the ‘New Oil’ of the 21st century and Taiwan has used them well for its security and economic progress. The US thinktank warned that the possibility that the semiconductors which so far acted as the Silicon Shield for Taiwan, becoming a double-edged sword, has increased substantially. The report also says that the strategic competition between the United States and China has increased the geopolitical importance of Taiwan.

Since the last decade, the Chinese companies have been seen leading the sectors from 5G to Artificial intelligence. China has shifted its focus to the semiconductor sector to strengthen this leadership position, and it is being revealed that Chinese companies have started manufacturing semiconductors. The international community has taken this matter very seriously and experts and analysts in the sector are warning that Chinese dominance in this sector will pose a significant threat. Last year, the British intelligence chief had warned that the Chinese movements in the technology sector would change the geopolitical equations in the world.