Newport Wafer Fab has been thrust into the struggle between the West and China.
Last July the outfit hit financial difficulties and was bought by Nexperia, one of its customers. Nexperia is headquartered in the Netherlands but its ultimate owners are Chinese firm Wingtech Technology.
Suddenly the British government realised that it was not in the strategic interest that China gains prominence in the global semiconductor industry. Well we say realised it was told by America which seemed to take the problem a little more seriously.
It was only this May, close to a year after the sale and after heaving lobbying, that ministers ordered a national security review under new powers.
The national security concerns are not about highly sensitive technology being made at the site with a defence or intelligence role. Rather it is about not having to rely on chips made overseas. Suddenly making your own chips is fashionable.
