Chip War

Chapter 49 outlines how the US semiconductor industry, led by companies like Intel, struggled against China’s aggressive pursuit of dominance in the global chip market. Intel’s CEO, Brian Krzanich, became increasingly alarmed by China’s state-backed subsidies and push to cut US companies out of its supply chain. While the US government was slow to act, by 2016, officials started recognizing the national security implications of China’s tech ambitions. The chapter highlights how, under the Trump administration, a shift in US policy took shape, focusing on export controls and viewing semiconductors as essential to national security, especially in light of China’s growing technological and military capabilities. Despite concerns about China’s leverage over global technology, US chip companies, heavily reliant on Chinese markets, were caught in a dilemma, struggling to balance business interests with geopolitical realities. Semiconductors emerged as the “cornerstone” of the 21st-century competition between the two nations.

Chapter 50 details the corporate espionage case involving Micron, a US memory chipmaker, and Jinhua, a Chinese state-backed firm. Kenny Wang, a Micron employee, attempted to steal confidential data, including designs and manufacturing processes, to help Jinhua create advanced DRAM chips. Jinhua received massive government subsidies, and its aim was to compete against global DRAM leaders like Micron, Samsung, and