Tension Between China and Taiwan
The global shortage of chips that forced several automakers to halt production has brought attention to Taiwan’s outsized role in semiconductor manufacturing.
Much of that dominance comes down to TSMC, the world’s largest foundry that counts major technology firms such as Apple, Qualcomm and Nvidia as its clients. CNBC
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s chips are everywhere, though most consumers don’t know it.
The company makes almost all of the world’s most sophisticated chips, and many of the simpler ones, too. They’re in billions of products with built-in electronics, including iPhones, personal computers and cars – all without any obvious sign they coame from TSMC. Wall Street Journal
Pressure between China and Taiwan has been building, with the past year seeing a record number of Chinese warplane incursions sent into Taiwan’s air defence zone.
At the heart of this is the issue of reunification. Read More from BBC
CHINA will remain committed to pursuing “reunification” with Taiwan, but Beijing does not have the firepower to act against Taipei anytime soon, an expert has told Express.co.uk.
The war in Ukraine has increased Beijing’s sense of urgency to prepare for any change to Taiwan’s status quo, according to analysts, with satellite imagery confirming mainland China has stepped up efforts to get its military shipbuilding schedule back on track. South China Morning Post
US lawmakers discussed measures on Thursday that Washington should take to help defend Taiwan against any moves by mainland China’s military, including expedited weapon sales meant to arm Taipei “to the teeth”. ABS CBN News
The article, titled “Biden might be on the verge of making a blunder with China,” warned that it would be “irresponsible” and a “huge political loser” for the Biden administration to abandon Trump’s China tariffs. Fox
According to Former CIA Moscow station chief, China poses a ‘major threat’ both economically and militarily. Full Video Comments – Fox
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is a man on a mission.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, he has imposed sanctions on Moscow, agreed to pursue a nuclear-free world with the Pope and taken a diplomatic tour of Southeast Asia and Europe to rally world leaders to protect democracy. CNN
Shrinking Chinese demand, stemming from extended lockdowns in major cities such as Shanghai, deemed the ‘single most deterministic factor affecting Chinese oil companies’ purchases abroad’ South China Morning Post