China's SMIC and Taiwan's TSMC are caught on opposite sides of the "Global Chip War." TSMC, despite having extensive commercial ties and fabs in the Mainland, is a beneficiary of U.S. efforts to stifle competition from Mainland competitors like SMIC. Geopolitical considerations, therefore, are increasingly influencing TSMC’s business decisions, as shown by TSMC’s construction of fabs in Japan and the United States despite founder Morris Chang’s longstanding opposition to overseas fabs due to their high costs. SMIC, meanwhile, is the Mainland’s best hope for creating a “red chip supply chain” and achieving 70% semiconductor self-sufficiency via domestic suppliers, which has taken on even more importance due to U.S. sanctions on advanced chips for AI model development. This article analyzes SMIC founder Richard Chang’s dream of building a red chip giant on the Mainland that can rival or even replace TSMC, which will directly conflict with Chang's former co-worker and fellow Taiwanese Morris Chang’s dream of solidifying TSMC and Taiwan’s position as the irreplaceable center of the semiconductor industry well into the 21st century.

In the pursuit of knowledge, research philosophy serves as the uncharted compass guiding scholars through intellectual terrain. This meticulously crafted review paper embarks on an enthralling odyssey through the annals of history and the corridors of thought. We trace the origins of research philosophy in ancient civilizations, witness the dynamic interplay of faith and reason during the medieval and Renaissance periods, and explore the Enlightenment era's embrace of reason and empiricism. The ascent of positivism in the 19th and 20th centuries reshapes the landscape, followed by the seismic shifts of postmodern critiques and paradigm shifts. As we journey through time, we also embrace the contemporary and cross-disciplinary influences that enrich the philosophical fabric of modern research. This narrative underscores the profound impact of philosophy on research practices, offering readers a captivating tapestry interwoven with intellectual discoveries. Join us on this voyage through the epochs and ideologies that have shaped the pursuit of knowledge.

The caliber of export products is a microcosmic reffection of economic development quality. This study seeks to elucidate the inffuence of environmental regulation on product quality, integrating the role of the skill premium as shaped by environmental regulation within a Dixit-Stiglitz CES production function model. Additionally, we empirically scrutinize the interplay between environmental regulation, skill premium, and product quality, utilizing Chinese customs export data in conjunction with data from listed companies spanning 2003-2015. The conclusions drawn from our theoretical analysis and empirical veriffcation reveal an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and product quality, which is tempered by the skill premium. Moreover, a signiffcant positive correlation exists between environmental regulation and the skill premium. Similarly, the relationship between the skill premium and product quality manifests an inverted U-shape. Notably, an elevated skill premium markedly bolsters the enhancement of product quality through green innovation. These insights underscore the need for balanced environmental regulations and strategic investment in skilled labor to augment product quality. This serves as a valuable compass for policymakers and businesses endeavoring for green innovation and high-quality, sustainable economic growth.