Taiwan dominates global production of the microchips which are within almost every technological device we use.
A disruption to these supply chains would cause incredible damage to China and the world, a fact which protects the island nation to some degree from a military attack.
Newsnight's Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban speaks to people in the industry as well as Taiwan's Foreign Minister about whether the prospect of an ever-closer confrontation with China is inevitable.
This film was produced by Caitlin Hanrahan and camera journalist Jack Garland.
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