TECH & INNOVATION: South Africa caught in the crossfire of global chip wars.
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GUEST - Jan Vermeulen, Editor at MyBroadband
Taiwan has slapped export restrictions on semiconductors bound for South Africa a move that threatens industries from car manufacturing to cloud computing. The decision follows Pretoria’s downgrading of Taiwan’s diplomatic office, a gesture widely seen as bowing to Beijing. With Taiwan controlling up to 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, the ripple effects could be severe, from pricier electronics to delays in digital transformation projects.
So what triggered this high-stakes standoff, which sectors stand to lose the most, and could South Africa end up more dependent on China’s less advanced chipmakers?
Taiwan has slapped export restrictions on semiconductors bound for South Africa a move that threatens industries from car manufacturing to cloud computing. The decision follows Pretoria’s downgrading of Taiwan’s diplomatic office, a gesture widely seen as bowing to Beijing. With Taiwan controlling up to 90% of the world’s most advanced chips, the ripple effects could be severe, from pricier electronics to delays in digital transformation projects.
So what triggered this high-stakes standoff, which sectors stand to lose the most, and could South Africa end up more dependent on China’s less advanced chipmakers?
