I wonder if either China or the US would even be interested in Taiwan if there was no semicionductor industry? They would probably just hold hands and go there on vacation together instead of all this idiocy.
Actually, it is not only about the semiconductor industry established there in Taiwan. There is much more going on than what meets the eye when comes to a potential takeover of Taiwan by the Chinese Communist party.
I have a friend from China and Taiwan and he has examples to me that the dispute between both countries comes mostly because within the Chinese folklore and tradition, the ruler of China is supposed to have the power over all the "unified empire" for him to be proclaimed to be the one having the favor of heaven. So Taiwan could be just an insignificant islands with no industries and yet, China would try to claim it for herself because the millennial tradition which goes on to this day about the great unifier who is supposed to bring all the claimed territories of Chine together. Xi wants to leave a legacy behing of him, being that historical figure in the nooks of Chinese history.
That is also the reason why he keeps territorial disputes with India, over desolated land near the Himalayas.
You've really given a new meaning to this China, obsession to conquer and Lord over the sovereign territories around it's borders, meaning that they want to fulfill their mythical desires. This is just so baseless in this modern age, China, is already a country that has it all, landmarks, population and technology, a country that is very powerful and no nation can mess with, with their achievements it's totally unnecessary to bother about Taiwan, or any other countries or territories around them. The army and warships that are deployed around Taiwan, are mere drills to show their millitery mights, nothing more, as far as I'm concerned. Taiwan has a president and that makes it a sovereign nation, whether they're weak or strong.
That is the worst part about this conflict, in my opinion, the lack of necessity China has over the conquer of a tiny nation and island as Taiwan. That only shows they invasion of Taiwan would be only for purely political purposes, not even because the pursue and access to natural resources.
Though, I agree this is just a demonstration of force by China, however, we should also consider this to be a smart tactic by China to drain the economical capabilities of the United States. The USA could have a bad time defending Israel, Ukraine and also Taiwan at the same time, it would be problematic for the congress and the American taxpayer to fun military equipment and ammo for three nations...
It is like opening several battle fronts, so the enemy won't have enough men and weapons to cover it all... It reminds me the first and second world war.