The announcement of China’s $47.5 billion third round of state funding for semiconductor research seemed well timed, coming just after South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had declared that the field had degenerated into all-out warfare. Similar sentiments have been expressed about 5G and to some extent cutting edge technology generally, in the wake of the relatively recent geopolitical schism into two broadly opposed camps, along with various major countries or groups seeking to bolster their own R&D in fields deemed critical. Semiconductor fabrication has emerged, over the last decade especially, as a major focal point for competition, as the field has narrowed at the top to just a few major foundries. These are (most notably) South Korea’s TSMC with…