There is no need for a war.Yeah but what US is trying to do is deny China chip tech to force a war on TW. They will corner China.
China has multiple layers of options:
- [Verbal threat] China can declare that USA is illegally interfering with China's internal affairs in denying the ability of China companies that are based in Taiwan (i.e. TSMC) to supply rest of China. If this persists, China will ensure USA will be equally deprived of the chips.
- [Counter sanction via Taiwan companies] Provide clear instructions to TSMC and all Taiwan companies not to supply USA, or face the consequences.
- [Get the Taiwan companies to heel] If TSMC and other Taiwan companies ignore the instructions, there are multiple layers of options to apply
- confiscate their holdings in mainland China
- sanctions
- level their factories in Taiwan after giving adequate instructions to evacuate
There are more than one way to catch up in a race. Run faster to catch up, or handicap the one in front of you.
USA has clearly chosen the second route to try to stop China running further in front. If TSMC cease to supply USA, USA no longer has a lead over China in the advanced chip manufacturing. Samsung would become the only manufacturer, and they won't really have the capacity to take on much of US companies' work. At that point, if Samsung has any survival instinct, it would do well to declare neutrality.