Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology

The gripping narrative of the protracted struggle to command the world's most pivotal resource—microchip technology—is at the heart of this book. The foundation of modern power—whether military, economic, or geopolitical—rests on the capabilities of computer chips. The United States has traditionally secured its superpower status through its dominance in developing cutting-edge computer chips and leveraging the technologies they enable. Chips are ubiquitous; they drive everything from automobiles to smartphones, financial markets, and even the electrical grid. However, America's technological supremacy is now threatened by the misguided belief that globalizing the chip industry, allowing manufacturing to shift to Taiwan, Korea, and Europe, aligns with its national interests. In "Chip War," economic historian Chris Miller delves into China's astronomical investment in microchip technology, likening it to a modern-day Manhattan Project aimed at rivaling the U.S. Miller vividly recounts the chronological development that allowed the United States to excel in chip design, illustrating how accelerating chip technology played a crucial role in surpassing Soviet-era weaponry. This ongoing battle for tech supremacy will significantly influence our future. China's economic vulnerability is underscored by its reliance on imported chips, a dependency more substantial than its oil imports. With 37 percent of the global chip production stemming from Taiwan, precariously close to China's military reach, there is growing concern in the West that a geopolitical resolution might soon unfold.