The world's top semiconductor manufacturer has found itself at the center of a escalating espionage dispute between the United States and China. As microchips become increasingly critical to global technology, economic security, and national defense, major chipmakers face growing pressures from competing superpowers. This explainer looks at the underlying reasons why the leading chip manufacturer has been drawn into the US-China spy row, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the semiconductor industry and advanced technology supply chains.