it takes about 8 years to train technical workers and designers.
i went through the training myself.
so indeed, i too doubt that the corona virus is going to shift production of goods away from China.
other nations (and you're right to point this out) simply do not have the experience as a culture required to make high tech goods.
The current manufacturing infrastructures, for all foreign companies doing business in China, is too entrenched for any relocation. The production disruption will shock the appropriate industries, whether it is tires or washing machines or computer chips.
However, as much as I dislike 'could' articles, as this one is, the point is made -- that the first world depends too much on China. In semiconductor manufacturing, technically skilled labor can be as simple as using the keyboard and mouse. At this level, the diversity is such that any CEO can negotiate in any country in the Americas, the EU, and Asia. Next level is either a 2-yr technical education or 2-4 yrs industry experience equivalent. This level is more difficult to relocate, or replace, or negotiate indigenously, but not impossible to do outside of China. The most difficult is the engineering/design level. Most engineers/designers specialized once they are hired. So now a CEO will have to deal with institutional memories or 'tribal knowledge' on how to get things done. Intellectual properties and copyrights issues are involved in everything an engineer/designer works on. Combine all three levels, and a global company like Samsung or Hynix cannot simply just pack up and move.
The point and lesson of this article is not lost on the Chinese government. What is now entrenched in China will resume operations once this crisis is over, but there is no predicting what CEOs will do in the interests of their respective industries. I will go out on a limb and predict that industries will reassess their involvement in China and
WILL diversify their manufacturing bases, whether it is tires, or washing machines, or computer chips.
