Bibliogr. s. 60-63

In the information age, semiconductors and chips have become the centre of attention for leading and aspiring world powers and growing economies. Following its rapid rise as the world’s leading manufacturer and exporter, China was expected to excel in the semiconductor industry. While it has certainly shown strong commitment to the manufacture of semiconductors and chips, it is yet to claim its position as their leading producer – a title currently held by what China considers its rebel province, the Republic of China (Taiwan). This chapter examines the stark contrast between China’s potential to become the world’s number one semiconductor manufacturer and its current reality, where it remains behind smaller economies such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. It explores China’s vast natural resources vital for the production of semiconductors, including silicon, germanium, palladium, boron and gallium, and offers a critical take on the state of the semiconductor sector in the PRC.