Part 9/14:
The US-China technology rivalry extends beyond mere trade; it influences worldwide supply chains and geopolitical alignments. China remains the largest consumer of chips globally, purchasing over 50% of the world's semiconductors, amounting to hundreds of billions annually. Yet, China’s domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced chips remains limited, relying heavily on imports from Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Efforts by China to become self-sufficient—under initiatives like Made in China 2025—have seen significant investment, including a $143 billion R&D funding boost. Yet, critical technology, especially for the most advanced 5nm and 3nm chips, is still largely out of reach, restricted by U.S. export controls and global supply chain dependencies.