Quote:
Originally Posted by Pajamaman
Do you think this change will really be actioned by governments, or will it be forgotten as the crisis lessens and hopefully passes?
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Depends on tbe country.
Some things being floated around aren't going to happen (Australia nationalizing Chinese owned property, Trillion dollar lawsuits in US courts) but the manufacturing and IP stuff was already on the table in the US.
I believe the Germans, too. Their plan makes sense. So does expanding it.
Reports out of France over medical gear are credible. Franceis to big to rely on the kindness of strangers on life or death matters.
Italy, less so. A lot of countries are in deep debt to China.
And a lot of the chinese owned contract manufacturers were already moving parts of their operations to Vietnam, India, Brazil, and the US. China's role as lowest cost manufacturing site was already fading before the crisis. So a lot of business can diversify while retaining tbeir contractors. The key thing is insuring against the next pandemic. And the one after that. Because they will come.
So it won't be hard for Kobo or other companies to diversify their supply lines.
Microsoft is launching a new gaming console this fall despite the crisis. Their factories and heavily automated, the new boxes were designed for robot assembly, and they are already being built in China *and* Malaysia. They were ready. (In fact, 40 years ago, Bill Gates insisted the company always have enough cash reserves to operate a full year with zero income. Zero layoffs. And with telecommuting and video conferencing they've barely missed a beat.)
Others will follow suit.
Those that don't will be gone soon enough.
If anything, tbe outbreak speaks even more to the need for full automation and since robits are not only outbreak-proof but also more productive, factory geography will matter a lot less.
Again, before the crisis a lot of companies were bringing production back to tbe US because between cheap energy, automation, and transportation costs, local manufacturing makes more sense.
In fact, expect to see more like this:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/14/ts...nment-support/
eReaders and all sorts of electronics depend on foundries like these to provide the core chipsets. They are the modern equivalents to steel mills or refineries.
The US has dozens, Europe a handful. Japan and Taiwan a lot.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List...ication_plants
So yes, believe the Germans.
Running your communications on gear made by a company owned by tbe CCP and PLA is not a good idea for privacy or security.