> The assumption that China's primary interest in Taiwan is solely due to TSMC, with claims like 'China will lose interest once TSMC ceases its operations'. Wh

> The assumption that China's primary interest in Taiwan is solely due to TSMC, with claims like 'China will lose interest once TSMC ceases its operations'. Whether or not that's its primary interest Taiwan, TSMC is partnering with the US and allies to geographically diversify its most advanced manufacturing. They are taking all the eggs out of one basket so China can't use its proximity to the basket as an advantage through threats or any designs they may have on acquiring the tech they have been unable to produce domestically. Edit: To add a little more flavor. General population are getting more aware of this but they have a surface level understanding of it; mostly memes and soundbites they parrot like "silicon shield". The silicon shield certainly has some merit to an extent but long term this causes more problems than it perhaps solves. The all the eggs in one basket problem: * China knows the world depends on those chips now, and all the most advanced chip manufacturing is sitting right off their coast. This really strengthens their hand in all sorts of ways. * The world does rely on those chips, but the worlds major liberal democracies are unified in their commitment to ensuring this tech remains in-the-family so to speak. They can't destroy the basket because all the eggs are in it and everybody needs the eggs. Another consideration; we were committed to Taiwan's defense before they came to dominate global chip manufacturing. Independent Taiwan is important to the Indo-Pacific strategy. Edit2: I said "all the most advanced chip manufacturing" and that's not true. Intel has all the capability or is right behind perhaps but it does not have the capacity to meet worldwide demand.