No. Supply might play a part in a conflict, but I don't see this as being the cause.
"China's manufacturing economy AND its military are entirely dependent on foreign-sourced semiconductors."
Why would they risk a global conflict that would weaken its military that would implicitly be weak from a shortage? The only reason I could see them taking this approach is if the foriegn suppliers stop providing the chips and they don't ramp up their own production during an existing conflict, backing them into a corner to take over production in another country (good luck having those facilities intact and staffing them).
(good luck having those facilities intact and staffing them)
This is the problem with the whole "take Taiwan for the semiconductor industry" line of thinking. China needs foreign scapegoats (it's all _____'s fault that your life sucks) and prizes (look! we took back what is rightfully ours) so it can keep control of it's increasingly oppressed people.
Comments
"World War 3 to Be Fought over Semiconductors?"
No. Supply might play a part in a conflict, but I don't see this as being the cause.
"China's manufacturing economy AND its military are entirely dependent on foreign-sourced semiconductors."
Why would they risk a global conflict that would weaken its military that would implicitly be weak from a shortage? The only reason I could see them taking this approach is if the foriegn suppliers stop providing the chips and they don't ramp up their own production during an existing conflict, backing them into a corner to take over production in another country (good luck having those facilities intact and staffing them).
This is the problem with the whole "take Taiwan for the semiconductor industry" line of thinking. China needs foreign scapegoats (it's all _____'s fault that your life sucks) and prizes (look! we took back what is rightfully ours) so it can keep control of it's increasingly oppressed people.