China accuses Netherlands of making ‘mistakes’ over chipmaker Nexperia
The logo of Chinese-owned semiconductor company Nexperia was displayed at the chipmaker’s facility in Germany after the Dutch government took control and auto industry bodies raised the alarm about the possible impact on car production in Hamburg, Germany, on October 23, 2025.
Jonas Walzberg | Reuters
China has called on the Netherlands to quickly correct its “mistakes” over chip maker Nexperia and restore stability to the global semiconductor industry, the latest development in a dispute over technology transfer.
In September, the Dutch government enacted a Cold War-era law to effectively seize control of Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker based in the Netherlands. The unusual move was reportedly made after the United States expressed security concerns.
In response, China has moved to block its products from leaving China, causing increased alarm among global automakers facing shortages of the chipmaker’s components.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said the Netherlands “must immediately correct its mistakes and remove obstacles to restoring the stability and security of the global semiconductor supply chain.”
“What is puzzling is that in the face of the concern and uneasiness of the global industry, the Netherlands remains indifferent and stubbornly persists in its own way, showing absolutely no responsible attitude towards the security of the global semiconductor supply chain and taking no significant action,” the spokesman said. in question In a statement according to Google translate.
A spokesperson for the Dutch government contacted by CNBC Wednesday morning was not immediately available for comment. Dutch Economy Minister Vincent Karremans has repeatedly defended He decided to intervene in the company in the past weeks.
Nexperia produces billions of basic chips (transistors, diodes and power management components) that are manufactured in Europe, assembled and tested in China, and then re-exported to customers in Europe and elsewhere.
Low-tech, cheap chips are needed in almost every electrically powered device. In cars, they are used to connect the battery to engines, lights and sensors, braking systems, airbag controls, entertainment systems and power windows.
Automotive industry groups said disruptions in the supply chain for Nexperia parts have not yet been fundamentally resolved, meaning the availability of components remains uncertain.
of japan Nissan and German car supplier Bosch’s It is among the companies warning of the impending shortage.
Speaking to CNBC last month, a spokesman for the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA), which represents Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz Group and BMW, among hundreds of other firms, warned of increasing risks to supply “especially for the first quarter” of 2026.
— CNBC’s Annika Kim Constantino contributed to this report.
