It could be argued that TSMC is the true goal. The USA is deliberately blockading the import of high-end Nvidia GPU's into China to stall their advancements in AI and keep the USA one generation ahead. Homemade Kirin chipsets from Huawei are still 6-7nm whereas Apple has TSMC rolling out more efficient 3nm silicon.

If China took control of Taiwan, and they would have the future of the entire US economy in the palm of their hand and could threaten all sorts of tariff wars to end the blockade or stop export altogether. When TSMC shut down for 6 months due to Covid look what happened to global semiconductor prices.

People look to the middle east as the potential spark for a larger conflict but it is whoever is in possession of Taiwan, politically or economically that controls the world.

(And no, a country cannot just start up its own manufacturing line. There is only one company in the whole world (Danish company Trumpf) that manufactures the incredibly advanced and delicate $500m UV laser projectors needed to create advanced chips. Its incredibly just how fragile the supply chain is for our modern world)