Strategically.....
While the U.S. has maintained a degree of self-reliance on semiconductors for use in military technologies, many U.S. defense systems, including advanced fighter jets, radars, and missile-defense systems still rely on commercial chips sourced from Taiwan. Disruptions in Taiwanese manufacturing facilities during conflict with China could cause catastrophic bottlenecks in U.S. military-industrial capacity, severely weakening its national security and the combat effectiveness of its armed forces.
The consequences for the global civilian economy would dwarf military-technological considerations. There is a TSMC-made chip in every new Apple iPhone. In every modern automobile, there are anywhere from 1,000-3,500 semiconductors, many of which are produced in Taiwan. Similarly, the rollout of 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure is heavily reliant on the availability of cutting-edge microprocessors which only a handful of firms, including TSMC, have the capacity to manufacture. These are just a few of many essential technologies and industries which would be dramatically impacted by disruptions to Taiwanese chip manufacturing.
Beyond the humanitarian and geopolitical upheaval that would follow a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the economic devastation it would unleash is impossible to quantify. As U.S. and allied policy makers look for ways to shelter their economies from the fallout of this potential conflict, there is a need to cooperate on issues of strategic resiliency in supply chains in an increasingly uncertain international security environment.
By: Gregory Arcuri and Samantha Lu Russia’s war in Ukraine has generated considerable concern around the world about the prospects of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Even as ongoing hostilities wreak havoc on international commodity markets, Taiwan’s status as a critical node in the global...
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I think allying and supporting Democracies worldwide has strategic importance....curbing China's power and influence has strategic importance. We abandon Taiwan and China takes it.... it sends a very bad signal to other democracies in the Region and they may look to appease the Chinese and distance themselves from the US.
None of which would be good good for the US strategically long term.
China isn't our friend....their our main adversary in the world and we should act accordingly.