Comment by alfalfasprout
16 hours ago
there are many things to blame POTUS for. This isn't one of them... most major fabs were already outside the US to begin with and the US chipmaking industry (well, really Intel) was really struggling even years ago.
I don't see the connection. No matter where US chips are manufactured, it's not the location of the fab that causes technology sovereignty concerns. Those concerns come from questions about the stability and rationality of our leadership: can my jet fighter get nerfed if I wanted to defend Greenland from an invasion? Are my spies being spied on by US technology?
Those questions didn't used to be significant factors.
I'd argue that the consolidation of the chip industry in Taiwan has had the most impact here. If/When China does move to take over Taiwan the global chip supply will be devastated and countries are well in their right to want to diversify from that. If anything, POTUS statements just also solidified the point that like Taiwan, they should not rely on USA or any other country for that matter. Hence why so many countries are pushing for some level of self sustainment.
Chip fabs are a red herring. They haven't been controlled by the US, and give the US no leverage over nations that used to be unequivocal allies. Those places are where technology sovereignty is a hot button issue. They can't count on the US, or US technology companies. You say Taiwan shouldn't rely on the US. But of all places where technology sovereignty is at issue, Taiwan has the least risk of being traded away in a corrupt real estate deal.