End of the Line

The 1999 earthquake in Taiwan not only caused widespread devastation and loss of life but also highlighted the global interconnectedness of supply chains. As factories in distant states like California and Texas faced closures due to disrupted semiconductor chip supplies, major companies like Dell and Hewlett-Packard were forced to halt production. This event underscored the new, complex risks that arise in an increasingly globalized world, transforming a local disaster into a potential global crisis.