According to Western media reports, leading semiconductor-producing countries, including the US, form alliances to protect their chip supply chains and prevent China from taking the lead in the industry, and it is noted that the US, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are actively working on partnering around critical technologies.
In the experts ' view, the main reason for such activities was the confrontation between China and the Union of Associated Countries, which also showed how important chips were for the economy and national security of States.
Semiconductors are a critical technology because they are used in many products, ranging from smartphones to automobiles, and in the modern world they are also crucial in other industries, including artificial intelligence and defence, and the importance of chips has been clearly demonstrated during the coronavirus pandemic, when the simpleness of the semiconductor industry has led to a shortage of such products around the world.
The global chip deficit has shown a number of governments how important it is to ensure the continued production of semiconductors. In the US, under President Joe Biden, the authorities insist on the need to move chips from abroad to the country.
Semiconductor supply chains are complex and involve several stages, ranging from design to packaging and manufacturing; complex equipment is required to organize such production; for example, the Netherlands-based ASML is the only company in the world to produce the most modern chips. The US, while strong in many market segments, has lost dominance in the semiconductor industry. The Taiwan TSMC and South Korean Samsung have taken the lead in the production of advanced chips over the past 15 years. The largest American player is Intel, but the company is far from the position of industry leaders.
Because of the complexity of the chip supply chain, no country can deal with this alone, so there has been a tendency for countries to partner in the semiconductor industry in recent years. In this regard, American authorities are active with allies from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. In addition, semiconductors are a key part of US cooperation with India, Japan, and Australia.
Each country has its advantages in developing and producing chips; however, seeking such a partnership has another common feature: China's absence from the supply chain; these unions are essentially designed to isolate China from global supply chains; some experts believe that China's development in this segment will be severely limited in the short term.
," said the Head of Technology Policy, Albright Stonebridge, Paul Triolo , referring to the partnership of different countries in the semiconductor industry.
In recent years, China has invested heavily in the development of its semi-conductor industry in an effort to increase self-sufficiency and reduce dependence on foreign companies. Experts believe that this will be extremely difficult because of the complexity of supply chains and the concentration of technology in the hands of a small number of countries and companies. China is improving in various areas, including the development of a micro-scheme, but it remains heavily dependent on foreign instruments and equipment. Even the largest Chinese producer of SMIC chips is technically far behind TSMC and Samsung.
The source notes that not all U.S. partners seek to further restrict China's access to technology and supply chains, largely because many companies have production sites in the Underwear area and the country's market plays an important role in their business. China, the world's largest chip importer, is a key market for semiconductor manufacturers from around the world, ranging from American Qualcomm to South Korean Samsung.
," counts Triolo.