The fate of Taiwan may seem like a distant concern to many in the West, but as Edouard Prisse argues in We Are Funding China’s Growth That Must Stop!, it is central to the global balance of power. Taiwan is not only a symbol of democratic resistance to authoritarianism—it is also the beating heart of the world’s semiconductor industry. If China succeeds in taking Taiwan, the consequences will ripple far beyond the Pacific.
Chapter 10 of Prisse’s book lays out the danger with clarity. The world has passively accepted China’s “One-China” policy for decades, assuming Taiwan’s eventual absorption into Beijing’s fold was inevitable or unimportant. But with rising tensions and military pressure from China, Taiwan’s independence—both political and economic—is under direct threat.
What many fail to grasp is Taiwan’s outsize role in global technology. The island’s semiconductor industry, led by companies like TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), produces over 60 percent of the world’s advanced microchips. These chips are essential components in smartphones, computers, cars, and military systems. If China were to seize control of Taiwan, it would gain a near-monopoly over a critical supply chain.
Prisse connects this to his broader argument: China is not simply a trade partner—it is a strategic competitor pursuing dominance by every means available. Control over semiconductors would give Beijing unprecedented leverage, not just over supply chains but over Western economies and defense capabilities. The mere threat of such control would be enough to intimidate governments and corporations alike.
China’s aggression toward Taiwan is not just about territorial nationalism. It is about power, control, and future-proofing its global influence. And the West, particularly the United States and Europe, has done little to prepare for a scenario in which Taiwan falls. Prisse argues that this complacency mirrors the same thinking that led to decades of free trade with China—the belief that economic interdependence would keep authoritarianism in check.
But reality has proven otherwise. China has used its economic power to fund disinformation, buy influence, and pressure weaker nations into compliance. It has expanded its military reach, clamped down on dissent, and undermined international norms. If Taiwan is captured, this behavior will only escalate.
The United States has begun reinforcing its commitment to Taiwan, but even recent arms sales and diplomatic support may be too little, too late if trade policy continues to enrich Beijing. Prisse makes the case that Western governments must act now to reduce economic reliance on China and build independent chip manufacturing capacity. This is not just about securing supply—it’s about defending sovereignty.
In the final analysis, Taiwan represents the intersection of freedom and functionality. Losing it to China would not only embolden a dictatorship, but also leave the West dangerously dependent on a regime that does not share its values. Prisse’s warning is urgent: if Taiwan falls, the cost will not be measured in territory alone, but in economic autonomy, technological leadership, and the very credibility of Western democracies.