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Senate passes massive package to boost U.S. computer chip production
[....] The 64-33 vote represents a rare bipartisan victory a little more than three months before the crucial November midterms; 17 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting yes. The package, known as "CHIPS-plus," now heads to the House, which is expected to pass it by the end of the week and send it to President Joe Biden for his signature.
[....] The centerpiece of the package is more than $50 billion in subsidies for domestic semiconductor manufacturing and research.
Supporters on Capitol Hill, as well as key members of Biden's Cabinet, have argued that making microchips at home — rather than relying on chipmakers in China, Taiwan and elsewhere — is critical to U.S. national security, especially when it comes to chips used for weapons and military equipment.
[...] The final chips bill is a slimmed-down version of a much broader China competitiveness package that House and Senate lawmakers had been negotiating. Earlier, the Senate passed its bill, known as USICA, while the House passed its own version, the America COMPETES Act. But lawmakers couldn't resolve their differences, and leading Democrats decided to switch their strategy and scale back the legislation.
The package also includes tens of billions more in authorizations for science and research programs, as well as for regional technology hubs around the country.
If passed, will this be well spent? Will the US actually be globally competitive in chip manufacture?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by oumuamua on Friday July 29 2022, @02:56PM (4 children)
Both those articles were written before the Ukraine invasion, they can both be considered out-of-date. The Ukraine invasion itself is enough to make China reconsider any 'plans of invasion' it may have have had. Yet the Ukraine invasion had another effect of making everyone worry about how to prevent a possible invasion when the best course of action is to retain the status quo. For all the news on Pelosi going to Taiwan, I have yet to hear WHY she wants to go besides being part of an 'Asia tour'. https://www.ft.com/content/1ed04488-dbf6-44b1-910a-de04eb3b08e2 [ft.com]
An Asian tour that does not include China itself, so in fact it is the 'Anti-China Asian tour', of course China will be upset about that. Just like the US is upset about China possibly making a military base in the Solomons: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/26/us-wont-rule-out-military-action-if-china-establishes-base-in-solomon-islands [theguardian.com]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Freeman on Friday July 29 2022, @03:59PM (2 children)
Look at Hong Kong, right now. It's extremely likely that Taiwan will either end up with the same fate or end up like the Ukraine. Except that China has a lot more people, indoctrinated a lot better than Russia has now. Though, it's certainly possible that something tanks in China and a lot worse stuff happens for China.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by HiThere on Friday July 29 2022, @07:37PM (1 child)
Bazz-Fazz. Tanks won't be significant. What WILL be significant is control of the seas surrounding Taiwan. And China is taking clear steps to command those. If Taiwan is isolated (except by air?), then the economic effects will be sufficient without any invasive military actions. But it might take a decade or so. (I'm no expert in that area, but Taiwan is a relatively small island quite close to China.)
I'd wonder about Okinawa, but sea level rise will probably make that unimportant.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
(Score: 5, Informative) by c0lo on Saturday July 30 2022, @02:39AM
The English language is like a woman, gotta love it even if at times you don't quite understand it (large grin)
I'll direct your attention to the definition of "to tank - intransitive verb - to suffer rapid decline, failure, or collapse" [merriam-webster.com].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday July 30 2022, @02:23AM
China won't take chances on Taiwan [project-syndicate.org], but will move in when they are ready (and/or the opposition they are likely to encounter is in a moment of weakness).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0