Our weekly documentary film curated by the editorial team at 21WIRE.
An aspect revealed during the period known as the COVID-19 pandemic is the extent to which great powers depend on strategic products. The persistent shortage of semiconductors—essential to our daily lives—is reshaping geopolitical relations, fueling inflation and increasing tensions between the U.S. and China. It is estimated that 10 million cars worldwide were not produced in 2021 due to a lack of available semiconductors. From our computers to our toasters, from our tablets to our refrigerators, microprocessors, or semiconductors, power all our daily devices. They hold national strategic importance, supporting all advanced military and civilian technologies. Yet, while demand for both the quantity and quality of semiconductors has been growing, the number of places producing them has been shrinking. Only a few countries possess the specialized knowledge and capability to produce cutting-edge chips, with 63% of all chips manufactured in Taiwan. That this one island, which is already on the frontline of a superpower struggle between the U.S. and China, dominates production means that the world’s economies are dependent on the stability of Taiwan. So what can be done to secure microprocessors? And how is the battle for semiconductors already affecting our daily lives? Watch:
Run time: 51 min
Director: Nicolas Vescovacci
Production: Babel Doc/ Java Films
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