These days, images flood our screens through electronic and social media, showing scenes from the Middle East that many of us follow with both curiosity and anxiety. This region is where nearly 40% of the world’s oil trade flows, and the only thought that comes to mind is the hope that apocalyptic scenarios of oil crises or rising prices remain bitter fruits of imagination. While recent global crises seem to echo the infamous Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times,” it’s essential to return to reading about a “war without gunfire” that is silently unfolding in the field of technology—where even China is a key player.
Against this backdrop, inviting people to read a book titled “Chip War – The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” by economic historian Chris Miller might sound pessimistic. But as the saying goes, pessimists are merely well-informed optimists. That’s why it’s worth reading this book—to better understand the past, present, and future of one of the most important industries in the world: semiconductors or microchips.
Some may think they don’t need to know the detailed evolution of a small computer chip. However, the pages of this book are filled with surprising insights that many of us don’t know but would surely enjoy learning—enhancing our knowledge about the component that powers all the smart devices we use, from smartphones to televisions.
Although semiconductors didn’t exist seventy years ago, today they are essential to the functioning of countless products—from cars to children’s toys. As the global economy grows increasingly dependent on them, any disruption in the supply chain would seriously impact our everyday lives. Chris Miller makes it clear that such a disruption is not only possible—it’s probable. That’s why reading this book offers a deeper understanding of the world we live in and how it’s affected by developments that might seem distant from our daily reality.
When Miller talks about the possibility of a semiconductor shortage, he emphasizes that this is nothing like running out of chips or chocolate at the supermarket. He refers instead to “integrated circuits” or “semiconductors”—so named because they are made from small slices (“chips”) of silicon.
The book offers more than a forecast or preface to global competition—it’s a well-structured story. Divided into eight chapters, it begins with the historical era known as the original “Cold War” (1945–1990), then reintroduces the term in a new context: the “New Cold War” between the U.S., China, and Russia over the production and distribution of this high-tech product. Only two chapters focus on the current situation with China, while the remaining six take a deep dive into history. Miller skillfully reveals how semiconductors evolved into one of the pillars of modern civilization and why they will continue to shape the 21st century.
If you glance around any room—whether at a laptop or TV—it’s easy to forget that beneath the sleek exterior of these devices lies a complex chip. These chips are what allow our household and office devices to perform countless functions that make our lives easier.
The semiconductor industry is relatively new in the course of human civilization, but it has drastically transformed every aspect of our lives—from the economy to military technology. A thumbnail-sized microchip containing integrated circuits was a groundbreaking innovation independently developed by Jack Kilby and Robert Noyce. It lies at the core of every modern device we use today. Who would have imagined that while Jack Kilby sat in his Texas Instruments lab during summer vacation, tinkering with transistor installations, he would stumble upon an idea that changed the world? By embedding multiple elements into the same piece of semiconductor material—rather than using separate components—he created the integrated circuit and revolutionized how we interact with technology.
This book is an epic account of the decades-long battle to control what is arguably the most critical resource in today’s tech-driven world. The U.S. and China are now fierce rivals in this arena. Readers may be surprised to learn that microchips are now dubbed “the new oil”—a rare and essential resource upon which the modern world depends.
As Miller notes, today’s military, economic, and geopolitical power is built on the foundation of computer chips. Everything in our reality—from rockets to microwave ovens, from smartphones to stock markets—relies on these microscopic devices. The United States has always led this race. It invented and produced the first chips and used this advantage to maintain its global military and economic dominance. But Miller shows a more concerning picture, in which America has let go of key parts of the semiconductor production process. This shift has raised fears that if the production chain—now largely moved overseas—is broken, it could trigger not just a shortage, but a new kind of Cold War.
The U.S. competitive edge is increasingly threatened by other countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Europe, and especially China. Today, China spends more money annually on importing chips than it does on importing oil. It is investing billions into building domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.
Nearly half the book is dedicated to the history of the semiconductor industry, and both general readers and those in the field will find valuable insights. Miller presents the story of TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), one of the world’s most important chip producers, founded by Morris Chang—an American who was sidelined at Texas Instruments. The book also explores ASML, a Dutch company that builds the extraordinary machines used to etch extremely fine silicon chips. It explains chip types and architectures like X86, ARM, and RISC.
Through an engaging narrative, Miller demonstrates how incredibly difficult it is to manufacture high-end chips—and how few countries and companies can actually do it. For instance, EUV machines made by ASML are some of the most complex machines ever built. Only a handful of companies like TSMC, Intel, and Samsung can produce such high-level chips—and none of them are in China. The countries that lead this field include Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, the U.S., Singapore, and some Western European nations.
Yet more than 40% of production capacity comes from TSMC in Taiwan—a concern that Miller describes as not just a supply chain issue but a potential geopolitical nightmare. Although over 90% of chip designs originate in the U.S. or the U.K., most of them are manufactured elsewhere—mainly in Taiwan. This poses a major national security challenge for the U.S., especially considering China’s ambitions to “reintegrate” Taiwan with the mainland.
Despite its serious title, “Chip War – The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology” is not a book that merely spreads gloom. Rather, it helps readers understand how the 21st century is shaped by the intersection of geopolitics, economics, and technology—a triangle that sometimes resembles the Bermuda Triangle and at other times, a harmonious balance.
With gripping clarity, Chris Miller reveals how a component as overlooked as the semiconductor has become central to everything—from smartphones to satellites. Mastering this industry gives a country strategic dominance in technology, economy, and national security. The book was published in 2022—the same year the U.S. government passed the CHIPS and Science Act (August 9, 2022), approving $280 billion to boost semiconductor research and production domestically.
This is an excellent guide to the current global state of affairs and efforts to secure resources and infrastructure necessary for technological dominance. From data farms and humanoid robots to drones and smart weapons, Miller helps readers see why every country now feels the urgency to develop its own semiconductor capacity—to avoid being vulnerable to geopolitical shifts.
In the final two chapters, Miller identifies two major and interconnected problems—both involving China. First, China’s growing ambition to become self-reliant in chip production. Although it is one of the largest users of high-tech devices, it still imports most of the chips it needs. To change this, China has engaged in various methods—including technology transfer—to catch up.
In response, the U.S. and its allies have pressured companies like ASML to stop exporting key technologies to China. This approach—nicknamed the “small yard, high fence” strategy—is illustrated through the case of Huawei. While this strategy has been somewhat successful, it has created a second and more serious issue: Taiwan.
Given China’s claim over Taiwan and its strategic importance—producing 60% of the world’s semiconductors and 90% of the most advanced models—any conflict could have devastating consequences. At best, it would cause massive delays; at worst, it could destroy TSMC’s infrastructure, triggering a full-blown crisis.
Chip War does not try to predict an apocalypse, but it is a guide to understanding the world we live in. It doesn’t dwell on horror scenarios, but it makes one thing clear: the absence of chips—triggered by unforeseen international developments—could dramatically affect our lives. Without microchips, the devices that enable our communication and ease our lives could stop working. And that is a risk no one can afford to ignore.
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