Not research but I follow some of the tech/science. It was like you said, a though bubble. Maybe a kernel of an idea that could grow to a solution.

There is not anything so special about Tiawan that it could not be replicated in another country. The tech is not developed there. The tech and tools are developed in the U.S. and Europe and exported to Tiawan for production. New Fabs are opening or are going to be opened outside of Tiawan. The real question is how can we remove from Tiawan the tech so that when China assimilates Tiawan the tech does not fall into the hands of the Chinese?

Right now, we are prepared to go to war against China to prevent the tech (and U.S. manufactured weapons) from falling into Chinese hands. People should not kid themselves; we would not defend Tiawan against Chinese aggression just to protect democracy and freedom in Tiawan. The U.S. already has a "One China" policy that acknowledges Chinese claims of sovereignty over Tiawan.

TEK