<\/p>\n
Pelosi was on a whirlwind tour of Asia. His controversial trip to Taiwan at a time of heightened tension with China led to angry protests from Beijing.<\/p>\n
Although Yoon spoke to Pelosi by phone a day later, many saw the South Korean leadership’s stance as an attempt to reassure China.<\/p>\n
Seoul’s ability to balance relations with its key military ally, the US, and its main trading partner, China, is being tested by the question of joining the ‘Chip 4’ alliance.<\/p>\n
Here’s everything you need to know about the alliance.<\/p>\n
From iPhones and Playstation game consoles to Dell laptops and Tesla electric cars \u2013 modern electronics rely on semiconductors (chips) to manage their complex functions.<\/p>\n
Chip shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic have disrupted production of multiple products and sparked a debate in the US about its reliance on chip imports.<\/p>\n
US President Joe Biden recently signed the Chips and Science Act, which sets aside tens of billions of dollars to encourage companies to establish manufacturing and design facilities in his country.<\/p>\n
The United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan supply most of the world’s demand for semiconductors. These countries have the capacity to design, produce and test small chip components.<\/p>\n
Taiwan’s TSMC is the largest contract chipmaker and counts Apple and Nvidia as its customers.<\/p>\n
This small island depends on the diplomatic and economic support of the United States to push back against China.<\/p>\n
Beijing sees Taiwan as an essential part of its territory, a claim accepted by much of the world. Only a handful of small nations see Taiwan as a sovereign state. Even the United States adheres to the “One China” policy and has not recognized Taiwan as an independent country.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n