The UK's energy policy over decades (and its reliance on the market) has now bitten us in the backside;
rather than have a strategic view of energy security, our political class have been convinced that markets would offer us energy at all times because it was in the sellers' interest.
The problem with such economic approaches is they assume that our markets relations are somehow inoculated from any wider disruption... it now turns out that this is very much not the case!
@kbm0
On a side note: As the same effects on digital technology would hit China as well and would massively shrink the economic value of Taiwan, I bet that China wont launch a military attack to annex Taiwan anytime in the next 5-10 years.
(I rather expext them to ramp up disinformation and hybrid war to influence people & elections in their favour)
@JustinMac84 @ChrisMayLA6
@musevg @kbm0 @JustinMac84 @ChrisMayLA6 China also can't afford the people that might be lost in a serious invasion attempt on Taiwan. They have a slight demographic problem on their hands already.
I would expect they'll try and restore Manchuria first. If Russia falls apart I'm sure they'll be "asked in" given the foundations they have laid for it so far.
Instead of Putin's little green men, they've been quietly building up a lot of business, influence and connections in former Manchuria.
@kbm0 @JustinMac84 @ChrisMayLA6
Agreed. Production computer chips is a global industry. Taiwan is fabricates the best and fastest chips. However, the designs are usually US, and more importantly, the fabrication relies on equipment designed and made in the Netherlands and Germany.
US racism had a big part in Taiwan's success in chips making
Emeritus Prof Christopher May
Justin Macleod
Ken Milmore
M Schommer
The Penguin of Evil
JW