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15 August 2024

What China's Dominance in Electronics Manufacturing Means for U.S. National Security

Brian J. Cavanaugh

One of the most pressing concerns today is the growing dominance of China’s heavily state-subsidized electronics manufacturing industry. What has not been widely discussed is its rapidly growing hold on the digital display market. This dominance not only threatens the economic health of the U.S. electronics sector but also poses significant national security risks that demand urgent attention. As someone who served three years on the National Security Council as the Senior Director for Resilience, I have witnessed firsthand the intricate and often unseen ways in which global supply chains impact national security.

China’s rise as a global leader in electronics manufacturing is no accident. It is the result of a deliberate, strategic, and heavily subsidized effort by the Chinese government to dominate critical technological sectors, exemplified by the “Made in China 2025” initiative. Billions of dollars in state subsidies have been funneled into companies that produce everything from smartphones to advanced digital displays. This has allowed Chinese firms to grow their market share in the LCD market dramatically, from 13 percent in 2016 to 45 percent in 2023.

In the digital display market, which includes everything from televisions to computer monitors and smartphones to military hardware, Chinese companies have made significant inroads. Firms like BOE Technology and TCL have become household names, often supplying major brands with the critical components needed for their devices. The consequence is a market heavily dependent on Chinese manufacturing capabilities.

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