Fighting over chips: why Taiwan matters

Throughout the course of human history, there have been wars over land, water, food, commodities and even pride. Unless there is a change of course, the next major war will be over silicon chips. 

With the increasing digitization of our lives, the importance of computer processors is rising exponentially. From our cars to our phones to our kitchens, computer processors are increasingly ubiquitous and integral. And at the heart and brain of computer processors are semi-conductors, otherwise known as silicon chips. 

The largest silicon chip manufacturer in the world is TSMC, based in Hsinchu Taiwan. It controls more than 50% of the global silicon chip market with the next largest market share held by South Korean…