Chip War

The Introduction sets the stage by highlighting the geopolitical significance of semiconductors in global military and economic power. Using the USS Mustin sailing through the Taiwan Strait in 2020 as a framing device, Miller illustrates the tension between the United States and China over technological dominance. The chapter details how chips, particularly those produced in Taiwan, play a crucial role in modern electronics and military systems. The US restricts Huawei’s access to American-made chips, signaling a shift in the strategic importance of semiconductors as vital for economic and military supremacy.

Chapter 1 outlines how World War II, a conflict dominated by industrial production, became the backdrop for the rise of semiconductor technology. The chapter introduces key figures like Akio Morita, Morris Chang, and Andy Grove, who all lived through the devastation of the war. Their experiences shaped their future roles in the semiconductor industry. Miller emphasizes how World War II relied heavily on steel, oil, and industrial output, but points out that new technologies—like early computers and atomic weapons—were already reshaping military power. This shift from industrial to digital warfare set the stage for semiconductors to become the backbone of modern military and technological advancements, as the post-war era focused on the development of smaller, faster, and more efficient computing power.