Spanish
The Dutch government has taken control of the technology manufacturer Nexperia, which belongs to the Chinese company Wingtech Technology. The company specializes in the mass production of chips, considered vital for the European automotive industry.
"The decision seeks to prevent goods produced by Nexperia (finished and semi-finished products) from being unavailable in case of an emergency," they announced last Sunday from the Netherlands, through a statement.
To proceed with the measure, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs invoked the so-called 'Goods Availability Act' on September 30th "due to serious governance deficiencies at the semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia". The Government added that "the usual production process" of the company will not be interrupted.
"Based on the order, the Minister of Economy may block or revoke the company's decisions if they are (potentially) detrimental to the company's interests, its future as a Dutch and European company, or to the preservation of this crucial value chain for Europe," reads the statement.
Dutch authorities stated that this is a "highly exceptional" step in the face of the threat to "the continuity and protection, both in Dutch and European territory, of crucial technological knowledge and capabilities."
The response from the Chinese side
For its part, Wingtech criticized the intervention, highlighting that the decision "to freeze Nexperia's global operations under the pretext of 'national security' constitutes an excessive intervention driven by a geopolitical bias, rather than a risk assessment based on facts." "We express our strong protest against this discriminatory treatment against Chinese-funded companies," the company communicated. "Since Wingtech Technology acquired Nexperia, the company has strictly complied with the laws and regulations of all jurisdictions where it operates, maintaining transparent operations and strong governance," it highlighted. For its part, a Nexperia spokesperson confirmed that the company "complies with all existing laws and regulations, export controls and sanctions regimes", and maintained regular contact with the relevant authorities about its activity.
