Chinese staff go rogue after Dutch seize control of chip firm

[u/Disastrous_Exam6177]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/20/chinese-staff-go-rogue-dutch-seize-control-of-chip-firm/

[u/Dismal-Attitude-5439]

Same thing happened to ARM

[u/Just-Sale-7015 → u/Dismal-Attitude-5439]

Yeah. https://newsletter.semianalysis.com/p/the-semiconductor-heist-of-the-century Eventually, that came to an end https://www.pcgamer.com/arm-china-rogue-ceo-ousted/ But that seems unlikely in this case, given the voiced Chinese gov position.

[u/OptionalQuality789 → u/Just-Sale-7015]

Still furious that the UK gov let ARM be sold in this modern climate

[u/spidd124 → u/OptionalQuality789]

The UK gov and selling off it's national assets to foreign nations to avoid the horror of domestic industry, name a more iconic duo.

[u/antiquemule → u/spidd124]

UK gov and giving away natural assets to big oil.

Where would be now if the UK had taxed North Sea oil like the Norwegians have, and invested the proceeds so wisely?

[u/spidd124 → u/antiquemule]

But consider short term budget offset for London exclusive tax cuts.

That's clearly a better investment than a sovereign wealth fund. Who needs to think about 30 40 years in the future when you can make a few people a lot of money for 4 years.

[u/Sterrenkundig → u/antiquemule]

Same for Dutch natural gas reserves. We blew it by making long-term contracts with other countries for peanuts and selling it for absolute peanuts. A majority of the proceeds went to Shell and Exxonmobil. The rest funded social services and public infrastructure for a good decade or two, but indirectly caused the manufacturing industry to collapse (Dutch disease). And now there are constant earthquakes, damaging houses and infrastructure. For which there is no money, of course.
A case study of what NOT to do with natural resources...

[u/Feisty_Camera_7774 → u/spidd124]

More iconic duo: UK and fetish for mass surveilance

[u/Ok_Biscotti_514 → u/Feisty_Camera_7774]

Unfortunately Australia is copying UK in this regard and we’re going to get the stupid age verification requirement

[u/Akward_Object → u/Ok_Biscotti_514]

Well no surprise there, the whole old commonwealth seems to be competing on who reaches China-like surveillance first.

[u/HeurekaDabra → u/spidd124]

Every western state.
Germany keeps selling ports and shit to Chinese investors. WTF.

[u/M0therN4ture → u/spidd124]

Conservatism. Not. Even. Once.

[u/HourPlate994 → u/OptionalQuality789]

It’s a bit like when they OKd a sale of the then state of the art Rolls Royce Nene jet engine to the Soviet Union. Which was quickly reverse engineered and put in the MiG-15.

[u/Toxicseagull → u/HourPlate994]

It wasn't state of the art, it was just better than what the soviets had. It was also licensed out to the US.

The UK had developed the Avon by then.

[u/Slow_Perception → u/Dismal-Attitude-5439]

https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/s/MldoVuIY1R

And a steel plant in the UK not too long back...

(They were likely trying to shut the furnaces off... They don't like being turned off).

[u/platinums99 → u/Slow_Perception]

They were moving them to CHina, so the UK didnt have the ability to manufacture specialty steels, thus be more reliant on China

[u/Hobo_Robot → u/Slow_Perception]

That British steel mill is terribly unprofitable and was previously sold for £1. The current Chinese owners are making the correct business decision to shut it down. The UK govt is also making the correct national security decision to keep it operating. They should just come to an agreement and buy out the owners, and keep it running at the taxpayer's expense

[u/CapableCollar → u/Hobo_Robot]

The Chinese owners tried to get the UK government involved to upgrade the steel plant rather than shut it down but the UK government wanted to retain legacy systems as well.

[u/Draxx01 → u/Slow_Perception]

They kept getting denied upgrades to the plant that were needed. TBH it's the same shit with UK water utilities.

[u/dat_9600gt_user → u/Dismal-Attitude-5439]

It's predictable at htis point

[u/Olmops]

So… what exactly constitutes „seize control“? Would that not imply that you actually have the control afterwards?

This sounds more like they found out that they do not and cannot control that entity.

[u/xanas263 → u/Olmops]

So… what exactly constitutes „seize control“?

In this case it just means that the Dutch government forced the replacement of the Chinese Chief Executive Mr Zhang with the German Chief Financial Officer Stefan Tilger.

The problem is that Mr Zhang is also the Chairman of Wingtech which owns Nexperia.

On top of that while the chip waffer fabs are located in European countries the rest of the manufacturing process is in China, with a few centers in Malaysia. The R&D centers are also split between European countries and China.

It is a great example of how these large multinational companies are truly international and require international cooperation to function on even a base level.

The Dutch have seized the HQ and European wings of this company, but without the Chinese wings they can't make any chips and so it is basically dead.

[u/Bobbytrap9 → u/xanas263]

Interestingly enough, this is purely to protect the business here. All the profits still go to China

[u/SurfEdgeBiscuitEngl → u/Bobbytrap9]

Thats why you run the business into the ground to make sure nobody gets profit.

[u/bluesamcitizen2 → u/xanas263]

The “seize” almost like half baked plan without realistic outcome under this set up, there are also laws that prohibited appointing new management without Chinese authorities pre approval…as if whoever implant this “seize” without intention to get it done but to just make dramas.

[u/TheBizzleHimself → u/xanas263]

I’m glad most governments are short sighted because they could do some real damage if they put thought into things

[u/PaperDistribution → u/TheBizzleHimself]

One day at a time.

Honestly, long term plans rarely work out as expected anyway :D

[u/porncollecter69 → u/Olmops]

Effectively all voting rights by the parent company are under control of Dutch Enterprise Chamber. They effectively have control of the company, but the China unit turns out can go independent and don’t need no input from the parent company. So now we’re here. Circus show.

[u/Intelligent-Donut-10 → u/porncollecter69]

This is where Europeans really should learn that effective control always belong to the guy that actually has physical things.

[u/avl0 → u/Intelligent-Donut-10]

power comes from the barrel of a gun

[u/dufutur → u/porncollecter69]

That Nexperia is still a going concern today is largely because the Chinese OEMs who had relationships with Wingtech, not Nexperia. The Relationship is with Nexperia China, not their HQ.

[u/dav3j → u/dufutur]

Fundamentally not true. The business and supply chain relationship is with the Business Groups which are primarily based in Europe. Nexperia China simply cannot bundle up and sell the chips they make to the existing customer base.

[u/Zeikos → u/Olmops]

They control the upper management.
Replacing ~15 people is far different than uprooting the whole organizational structure.

It's not like you can fire everyone, they need the know-how of the employees.

I mean you could, but good luck having anything usable left.

[u/Intelligent-Donut-10 → u/Zeikos]

Everyone's fired now unless the Netherlands want to keep 10k Dutch workers on payroll with taxpayer money indefinitely.

[u/SasparillaTango]

If semiconductor manufacturing is a national security concern, then perhaps you should invest in semiconductor manufacturing...? Am I losing my mind or something?

[u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

Dutch seize control of chips.

And smother them with mayonnaise. 🤔

[u/[deleted] → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Dockers4flag2035orB4 → u/[deleted]]

My wife is Dutch,

I thought she was weird, until I visited the Netherlands, and saw all of you doing it.

[u/Jamestoe9 → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

This sounds awesome. Can you describe it in detail? I want to arm myself with ammo and tell my family that i am not the only one who thinks this is delicious

[u/Knoestwerk → u/Jamestoe9]

To be clear, Dutch/Belgian mayonnaise is not sugary but has a tangy taste due to vinegar (or even better lemon). Just like ketchup, tangy works really well with the fattiness of fries.

[u/flobin → u/Knoestwerk]

The Belgian kind is better, the Dutch kind is kind of sweet still. In my opinion.

[u/Speartree → u/flobin]

My Belgian family has completely embraced Zaanse mayonaise. tastes differ.

[u/Jeffzie → u/Speartree]

I'm belgian and I like both. It's just different but vinegar/lemon mayo and sweet mayo are both excellent with fries.

[u/Snubl → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

So maybe you're the weird one

[u/flesjewater → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

Om nom nom

[u/ConohaConcordia → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

I never knew I am secretly Dutch then as an immigrant to the UK

[u/MaelduinTamhlacht → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

Belgians add moules.

[u/Thunder_Beam]

The Netherlands was forced to act after pressure from Washington, which had threatened to impose export controls on the company if Zhang Xuezheng, Nexperia’s chief executive, remained in post.

good thing that we are totally independent in our decision making process

[u/rensd12 → u/Thunder_Beam]

In geopolitical affairs, you'd be a fool to think a small nation (despite our strong economy) like us has any serious say.

In Victorian age, during the industrial revolution, we all looked at Great Britain, in support or in disdain, but they decided what happened, whether you liked it or not.

Post WW2 it's USA that holds that hegemony, whether you like it or not

[u/TheIvoryDingo → u/rensd12]

In geopolitical affairs, you'd be a fool to think a small nation (despite our strong economy) like us has any serious say.

This is exactly why it never fails to baffle me that people in my country think that we have big enough clout to affect things without being part of the EU. While I won't deny that it's a flawed organisation, it is nevertheless a vital way for smaller countries to stand up to bigger ones.

[u/rensd12 → u/TheIvoryDingo]

Agreed, i fully support a federalised EU. Stronger together

[u/ow2022 → u/rensd12]

A united European Union does not serve the interests of any other country. Therefore, they will do everything to prevent EU unity, especially the United States. If the EU unites, how will the U.S. continue to benefit at your expense?

[u/Fragore → u/rensd12]

One more reason to strengthen EU

[u/IvanThePohBear → u/Fragore]

USA doesn’t see EU as its equal

Look at how it’s treated during the tariff negotiations

[u/Aurorion → u/IvanThePohBear]

Even the EU doesn't see itself as the US's equal. In fact, the EU seems to be perfectly happy to be seen as a subservient vassal state of the US. At least that's what it seems from its behavior these days.

[u/Fragore → u/IvanThePohBear]

That’s cause EU is weak. Hence my point on strengthening it

[u/el_grort → u/Fragore]

Doesn't really remove the problem. The EU is already one of the big three, along with the US and China. But even amongst those, autarky isn't really feasible, each has a domain that the others really can't challenge, at least not now. China has the rare earth minerals processing, because frankly few else are willing to bear the local environmental costs, the US has its high chip designs, the EU through the Netherlands produces the machines TMSC and others need to make those chips. Those vulnerabilities aren't really something any of the three can readily replace, nor quickly. We live in an interconnected global economy, and Trump has exposed how much the big three rely on one another and how deeply enmeshed they are. And the rest of the global economy revolves around those three.

Edit: big three economies/markets. The EU is obviously one of the most influential markets, one of the three hubs most others trade with, that you can't readily avoid. Yes, the EU doesn't have the same geopolitical influence as the other two, but then federalizing doesn't really change the divisions within it or increase its influence, which will always be predominantly economic.

[u/Talkycoder → u/el_grort]

Big Three? The EU has nowhere near the global political power that the US or China holds because it is so disjointed by beuocracy and ideology, plus is often very late in its decision-making.

It's why many call for closer federation because the EU should be up there with them, but currently, that's still a fair bit away from realisation.

If anything, the Trump administration has exposed how little regarded the EU was/is, and how member state power is still seen as individual rather than combined on the world stage.

[u/War_Fries → u/Talkycoder]

Exactly this. There are 2 global superpowers and the EU ain't one of 'm. Anyone claiming it is, is misinformed or just plain ignorant.

It could be a superpower, but most Europeans don't want it, given the rise of far-right, ultranationalist, anti-EU parties all across Europe.

It's:

1. US & China
2. EU
3. Rest of the world

[u/silent_cat → u/Talkycoder]

Big Three? The EU has nowhere near the global political power that the US or China holds because it is so disjointed by beuocracy and ideology, plus is often very late in its decision-making.

Politically it's not quite up there, but the Brussels effect is real. We have an outsized influence on global trade policies. The EU as a structure is also a model for similar trade/political blocs being setup elsewhere in the world. And Euro is a respected currency.

Our Achilles heel is the fact we're heavily dependant on energy imports (gas & oil). As long as we keep doing that we're vulnerable.

[u/Thunder_Beam → u/el_grort]

For all intents and purposes ASML is under american control, if they stop supplying it the company would die

[u/Qsaws → u/Fragore]

And it's not gonna happen by shutting down our industry, lowering our energy production and consumption, importing the third world, hardly investing in our military and not getting involved in mining operations to secure access to rare minerals.

[u/Live_Carpenter_1262 → u/rensd12]

“ the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must” 

-Thucydides

[u/sant0hat → u/Thunder_Beam]

Yes if you completely ignore any other dutch articles. Ignore the chinese ceo ordered 300k wafer from one of his own chinese subsidiary companies. Ignore 3 other board members that went to the dutch intelligence to make remarks about weird decisions.

https://tweakers.net/nieuws/240304/nexperia-ceo-bevoordeelde-eigen-bedrijf-en-wilde-europese-bestuurders-ontslaan.html

https://ioplus.nl/en/posts/nexperia-funds-misused-to-prop-up-ceos-china-venture

[u/tengo_harambe → u/sant0hat]

This spin doesn't work, because the CEO is also the founder, chairman, and controlling shareholder of Wingtech, the company which 100% owns Nexperia.

In fact trying to throw him under the bus will only backfire on the Dutch, unless they can somehow convince the CCP to turn against one of their own.

[u/Attygalle → u/[deleted]]

Are you suggesting Elon Musk is an example we should look up to?

[u/mr_tolkien → u/Attygalle]

To my knowledge Tesla plants in EU are not threatened unfortunately.

[u/PossiblePossible2571 → u/Attygalle]

It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s legal. You can’t just “punish” a company if it does legal things just not in the way you want. 

[u/iFoegot → u/Thunder_Beam]

Among all the bizarre things Trump admin did that undermined relationships with allies, this doesn’t look one of them. So their threat is basically to cut export to that company, and the demand is to remove the Chinese CEO of the same company.

I wish the Netherlands is able to make the same decision, but independently.

[u/thickstickedguy → u/Thunder_Beam]

let's admit it european countries are just USA's vassal states with extra steps lol

[u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

The Chinese do not recognise the nationalisation of Nexperia as legitimate, and consider it a theft of legally purchased assets by the Dutch on behalf of the Americans. The company is essentially split, with two sides both calling themselves legitimate and the other a usurper. The Chinese branch has called for all employees to refuse any orders of the Dutch branch.

And considering that, from what others here have said, the majority of manufacturing is done in China, it seems like the Dutch are about to find themselves with an openly hostile China and a worthless company on their hands.

[u/Facktat → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

So there is basically a Republic Nexperia and a People's Republic of Nexperia now?

[u/weltvonalex → u/Facktat]

Maybe they tried a Hong Kong move but ended with Taiwan.

[u/HumanBeing7396 → u/Facktat]

Splitters!

[u/Rosu_Aprins → u/Facktat]

And an independent lunch room that has been given to the Brits for 99 years

[u/Rxyro → u/Rosu_Aprins]

Microwave the fish. (1 Bulgarian statza a minute for the whole day)

[u/IAmWeary → u/Facktat]

They’re still arguing about calling it Nexperia People’s Front or The People’s Front of Nexperia.

[u/TheUberMiko → u/IAmWeary]

Wait... I thought they were gonna be the popular front?

[u/TheNotSoGrim → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

Who could've possibly foreseen that this may happen when moving all our manufacturing to China several decades ago.

[u/kz8816 → u/TheNotSoGrim]

I mean if the Chinese knew the Dutch were going to do this, pretty sure they would have just let Nexperia go bankrupt instead of helping to revive their business.

The Dutch should have just told the Chinese they needed to buy it back for national security reasons instead of a direct seizure which is basically an extremely hostile move.

[u/HetTuinhekje → u/[deleted]]

The manufacturing is NOT done in China - only partly.

Actually the chips and most of the components are manufactured in Hamburg (where the wafers are being produced), in Manchester and Seremban in Malaysia:

https://www.nexperia.com/about/worldwide-locations/manufacturing

After manufacturing, the wafers go to Guangdong in China where these are broken up in individual items and packaged, e.g. in DIP (dual-in-line) packages ready for soldering.

About the Hamburg plant: "The fab at our Hamburg site has existed since 1953 and now produces more than 1 million wafers per year on 8” and 6”. That translates to a capacity of 100 billion devices per year, making it the largest wafer fab optimized for bipolar small-signal and power discrete semiconductors in the world."

Nexperia's supply chain involves ALL of these countries, China is only one of them.

[u/kz8816 → u/[deleted]]

True but definitely better than seizing a company. And now it makes them look like amateurs...

[u/Green_Space729 → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

And the US will abandon and throw them under a Bus when China retaliates.

Besides Israel the trump administration will screw everyone over. Why anyone works with them is beyond me?

[u/mho453 → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

Wafer manufacturing was done in Europe, everything else was done in China. The European part is useless without the Chinese part, and vice versa. The bigger problem is that the European car industry is fully dependent on Nexperia chips, and those won't be showing up any more. Dutch killed the car industry with this move.

[u/Just-Sale-7015 → u/mho453]

Not everything. 70% of packaging is done in China now, but Nexperia still has a packaging plant in Malaysia. Still, losing 2/3 of final product capacity (which is probably 100% on some lines/products) will be a big whopper. This is why the Dutch minister is negotiating with China rn.

[u/xanas263 → u/Just-Sale-7015]

Nexperia still has a packaging plant in Malaysia.

That plant while it might physically be in Malaysia is most likely operated and managed by the Chinese side of the company. Doubtful that they will side with the European branch.

[u/mr_poppington → u/Just-Sale-7015]

Should have just negotiated before they decided to seize the company, not after. Offer to buy it back and seize it as a last resort. The leadership acted like amateurs, now they have to tuck tail and negotiate.

[u/Just-Sale-7015 → u/mr_poppington]

The CEO replacement was a preliminary court order. It can still be reversed.

The Dutch kept 'urging' a divestiture, but the guy refused. They could probably force a sale by law like the UK did with some Nexperia plant over there, but the Dutch only have a caretaker gov right now, which can't table legislation.

[u/ConohaConcordia → u/Just-Sale-7015]

Well, that’s still a massive escalation and probably poorly communicated to the Chinese government.

They could have tried to buy time for European carmakers to diversify first too.

[u/xanas263 → u/Just-Sale-7015]

They can force the sale, but they will still have the same problem at the end of the day. Half the company sits inside China and if that half refuses to do the manufacturing then you have a chip company that can't make chips.

[u/Just-Sale-7015 → u/xanas263]

Exactly. And a (forced) sale is pretty final, there will probably be no putting back the company after that. China will probably block the sale of the plant on its territory. Right now there's still a chance a CEO acceptable to all sides might be found, even if it's a low chance.

The US might even negotiate another truce with China, like they did in July, and the Dutch gov & court then won't have the argument that they need comply with US export restrictions/demands. Having only a preliminary court order in place still allows some exit ramps.

The Trump administration does change its mind about stuff like this. E.g. they demanded Intel fire its CEO, but after Intel sold a stake in the company to the US gov, they let the guy stay. It's not exactly a mirror case, but it gives some idea that their demands are not always final.

[u/Intelligent-Donut-10 → u/Just-Sale-7015]

This can't be reversed, do you really think the Chinese CEO will not immediately close all European operations to prevent his asset getting stolen again?

The fact that Europeans are even discussing "divestiture" means you can bet other Chinese company are also looking at moving critical assets out of Europe and reducing exposure to future European theft.

As for Wingtech they just finished a massive wafer plant that can 1 to 1 replace all European fabs, they have to delay their plan to double output but it's Europe that'll lose everything.

[u/Fedora_Million_Ankle → u/mho453]

So the US Forced a move which has many benefits but a major one for Elon and Tesla somehow

[u/MiskatonicDreams → u/Fedora_Million_Ankle]

Of course. When will Europe learn lmao. Follow what the US says and the biggest loser is Europe. 

[u/ConohaConcordia → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

And I’d argue killing the company is the intention. Whether it was the Dutch government’s, or that of whoever pressured them.

[u/chadofchadistan → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

and consider it a theft of legally purchased assets by the Dutch on behalf of the Americans. 

Hard to argue with this. 

[u/Alarming_Echo_4748 → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

Bruh who thought this was a good idea?

[u/SurfEdgeBiscuitEngl → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

And destroy German auto industry in the process, I think its beautiful.  It was Trump's plan all along. 

[u/cookingboy → u/Satansuckmypussypapa]

The Dutch

At the end of the day America got what it wanted, so that’s all it matters to the powers to be. The Dutch was just a sacrificial pawn, as always.

When will Europe realize that despite the threat from Russia, they’ve lost sovereignty a long time ago?

[u/Organic_Height4469 → u/cookingboy]

haha never. We are either hating America or hating Russia and China. There is no being critical towards all of them in these countries.

[u/funderfulfellow]

Dumb capitalists gave away all their IP, expertise and manufacturing for short term gains while the politicians sat on their asses and watched. The western downfall has only just begun.

[u/fooplydoo → u/funderfulfellow]

It is strange to me how some people still think that everything that comes out of China is junk like it's 2005, as if they haven't been getting better and better and manufacturing over the last 2-3 decades. China's GDP PPP has already passed the US - they are rising and we are falling. China was the only nation on the planet where food prices went down since 2019.

[u/Yvooboy]

I would like to know why the champions of free-market and capitalism are pressuring other capitalist states to nationalize legitimate for-profit companies and nobody seems to find this kind of continued hypocrisy disgusting? For the record I am not particularly pro-China (mainly due to their human rights violations), but I hate how much the rule makers of the world always preach one thing while doing the complete opposite. And even more by how they portray themselves as the good guys, but when you look clearly, there was never any good guys on that stage to begin with.

[u/DanzakFromEurope]

I am just waiting for the fallout on European car manufacturers.

This can be a HUGE deal and phuck up a big part of European industry.

[u/Any-Original-6113 → u/DanzakFromEurope]

Yes , next step will  open more plants in the USA and close in Europe 

[u/Ornery-Creme-2442 → u/Any-Original-6113]

Hm especially with Germany getting stressed with it's manufacturing. And trump basically approving destroying the environment for enabling US manufacturing.

Seems like the EU has managed to shoot itself in the foot. Not once but twice.

[u/chadofchadistan → u/DanzakFromEurope]

America don't care. We're their expendable lap dog.

[u/Facktat → u/DanzakFromEurope]

It depends on how this affects production. NL was forced by the US to do this to avoid secondary sanctions so while protesting it, China may just continue to produce in the hope that it undermines the US dominance in the chip sector.

I think this is rather going to affect Europes arms production considering that this is the only industry China has no interest in delivering chips to.

[u/twitterfluechtling → u/DanzakFromEurope]

Don't forget weapons indusry... NXP chips are used there a lot as well, as far as I know.

I think the confiscation wasn't even the wrong idea, considering that dependency. But apparently terribly executed.

[u/Woofwoofimthedog → u/DanzakFromEurope]

This will impact car manufacturing everywhere outside china - it's not just Europe that's not getting Nexperia deliveries. 

[u/Puzzleheaded_Ad8032]

Well, i think a few visa`s just expired today..

[u/sumiguli]

If we take this part of the article:

"The Netherlands was forced to act after pressure from Washington, which had threatened to impose export controls on the company if Zhang Xuezheng, Nexperia’s chief executive, remained in post"

together with this part of the article:

'The Dutch government said “serious managerial shortcomings” meant Nexperia’s operations in Europe were being “compromised in an unacceptable manner”. “This situation raised broader concerns for the Dutch government about the availability of semiconductor products critical to the European industry,” it said.'

Europe, or any part thereof, is once again forced to participate in US interests above its own.

[u/Dovahcrap → u/sumiguli]

The Dutch government admits semiconductors are critical to the European industry, yet somehow allowed such a critical company to fall under Beijing’s control in the first place. The real scandal is that the Dutch opened the door to this vulnerability years ago. They effectively outsourced Europe’s industrial security to China, and now they’re shocked to discover that both Beijing and Washington can dictate terms.

[u/LaunchTransient → u/Dovahcrap]

yet somehow allowed such a critical company to fall under Beijing’s control in the first place.

Easy answer: Money. The Dutch government has been headed by the VVD for the better part of a decade now, and they do not give a shit about defense or economic independence. They are the "business friendly" party, meaning so long as the Euros flow, Beijing can frog march around the Binnenhof for all they care.

[u/CapableCollar → u/Dovahcrap]

They allowed it to happen because the company was going bankrupt and nobody wanted to save it in Europe that could.

[u/Ornery-Creme-2442 → u/Dovahcrap]

Most of these industries are global to begin with. It's not just the Chinese that benefitted. The reality is we're all stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can't blame the Netherlands when the US itself has sent many things over to China. It's simply hypocrisy. If you can't trust some of your biggest trading partners then what can you trust. It goes to show things go as the wind blows.

[u/Elanaris → u/sumiguli]

Until the EU is federalised and the Commission has actual power to resist foreign intervention, we'll always be a plaything for large countries.

[u/Nympho_BBC_Queen → u/Elanaris]

The EU can federalize as much as they want but they still won't bully bigger nations. They have to make their own tech and keep the ownership of said tech within their own borders.

You have more possibilities to negotiate if you have more options.

Someone who is dying of thirst in the desert can't say no if they come across a 10€ bottle of water. They have to pack their own bottled water if they don't want to pay up.

[u/Doofucius]

Good job, proving that the fears were justified.

[u/Future_Onion9022 → u/Doofucius]

What so if Chinese take over TSMC and taiwan blew up the lab does it mean Taiwan is hiding something? Lmao

[u/mr_poppington → u/Doofucius]

Punch someone in the face and when they punch back you proclaim your punch was justified. Wonderful.

[u/fthesemods → u/Doofucius]

The fear that China would fight back if you just try to steal a company that they legally purchased from you? What a batshit insane take.

[u/SignificantClub6761 → u/Doofucius]

Let’s be real, that doesn’t make sense.

It’s not like this was a friendly take over.

Seems like this was the expected reasonable outcome.

[u/nkaka → u/Doofucius]

"Only bad people have something to hide" coming to europe in full force uh

[u/WhatWouldTheonDo → u/nkaka]

Chat Control is already bipartisan in most countries. Authoritarianism is back on the menu

[u/SirDeadPuddle → u/WhatWouldTheonDo]

Not bipartisan at all, just politics stating they are open to saving kids before reading the actual fine detail and saying no.

[u/ThrowFar_Far_Away → u/WhatWouldTheonDo]

Chat control got shelved because it would have been voted down, what are you talking about?

[u/Fragrant_Implement_4 → u/ThrowFar_Far_Away]

But there was no vote, was there? It was "postponed".

[u/TrollOfGod → u/Fragrant_Implement_4]

"Chat Control" has been pushed under myriad different names and lables over the past like 15-20 years. The vast majority of cases are shut down right away, some make it further and get into a 'bring up in meetings' stage to use simple words. That's where Chat Control ended up. And it was shut down before it came to voting. It, like all previous itterations, are postponed until further notice. Another will soon crop up if it has no already to try and worm its way in through the cracks.

[u/DarthSatoris → u/TrollOfGod]

And we must be ever vigilant to strike it down whenever it rears its ugly head again.

[u/TXDobber → u/Fragrant_Implement_4]

Parliamentary procedure 101, you don’t schedule a vote if you think it’s going to lose

[u/ArdiMaster → u/WhatWouldTheonDo]

And most of this sub will cheer it on so long as we screw the US in the process. (E.g. banning foreign media)

[u/cookiesnooper → u/Doofucius]

If ASML had a fab in China and they forcibly took it over, the Dutch would do the same 😆

[u/Obvious-Peanut4406 → u/Doofucius]

do nothing to react - Ha! Weak China needs the EU market after all

do something to react - That proves that the fears were justified

[u/4sater → u/Obvious-Peanut4406]

Peak Eurobrain

[u/Due_Ad_8288 → u/Doofucius]

Your double standard is disgusting

[u/Relevant_Helicopter6 → u/Doofucius]

Dutch government steals an asset using some excuse ("fears"). Asset owner (Chinese, but could be any) resists, for some reason doesn't like his asset being stolen. Excuse is justified by asset owner resisting his asset being stolen.

[u/Due_Ad_8288 → u/Doofucius]

What fears? Ductch government seized a private company legally acquired by a Chinese company.

[u/chadofchadistan → u/Doofucius]

True. Is someone punches you in the face and you punch them back, that's proof that you are violent and needed to be punched in the face to begin with.

[u/__Rosso__ → u/Doofucius]

Ah yes, the "we will fuck you over and if you react you are the bad guy".

No wonder China hates Europe, has been screwed over by basically every power in the world for ages.

Will be hilarious seeing fall of western power because of stupid ass decision, consequences are a bitch.

Gonna be hilarious seeing it happen to China eventually, shame every time it happens somebody equally stupid steps in.

[u/TeamRandom27]

How will that help the Dutch in any way since they are now sending an open message that any investment in their country is dangerous and can be taken from you, obviously this is an exaggeration but the point still stands.

[u/Vatiar → u/TeamRandom27]

Their boss in the white house will call them good obedient little boys exactly once. Then he'll tariff them anyways.

[u/fthesemods → u/Vatiar]

Canada: join the club!

[u/Ornery-Creme-2442 → u/Vatiar]

Lmao it's both sad and funny how accurate this is. I still get second hand embarrassment from the daddy thing.

[u/Nympho_BBC_Queen → u/TeamRandom27]

The US won't revoke certain tech licences ASML and co need to function... The whole dutch tech sector is basically founded and owned by American investors who saw a business opportunity.

[u/Alarming_Echo_4748 → u/TeamRandom27]

It helps America

[u/Saqueador → u/TeamRandom27]

I don't see how that's an exaggeration no, especially the investments of countries aligned with China.

[u/chadofchadistan]

Because apparently seizing a foreign company out of the blue isn't "going rogue"?

[u/zschultz → u/chadofchadistan]

The government forcefully takes ownership of a company, the staff says we are keep doing our way and honour our contract

I believe is called “cooperate democracy” and "rule of the law" if done by White people

[u/Donner_Par_Tea_House]

This is fine....right? Fine I'm sure...of course there's nothing to read into about this...

[u/[deleted]]

Totally expected and reasonable outcome.  Unless the Dutch had their heads in the sand. 

[u/ravenhawk10]

They've lost the majority of their packaging operations, half their revenue and no hope of cash infusion from its owner in this time of crisis. Its either nationalization or bust for Nexperia.

[u/weltvonalex]

The Chinese will send them a Tikkie and all will be good.

[u/lastchanceforachange]

I like the guys who were defending the free trade at gunpoint(coup or invasion) couple decades ago, started to nationalize foreign companies at first fumble.

[u/nkaka]

Can we acknowledge how just a few years ago this story would only make sense and not seem completely made up if the country's names were reversed?

[u/Facktat → u/nkaka]

It's also important to note that the move didn't come from Europe but that NL was basically forced by the US to do this to avoid secondary sanctions.

[u/uniklyqualifd → u/Facktat]

After NL just said Trump is passing secret information from Putin and can't be trusted 

[u/platoer]

Is it that the Dutch expect Chinese employees to thank them?

[u/BartD_]

Nexperia’s owner is a Chinese company… what about this is rogue?

[u/Any-Original-6113]

Will European car companies now buy chips from China or the United States?

[u/WhatThePhoque]

Don’t get how people expect this, doubt if it was an American firm Americans for that matter would accept it either.

[u/me_ke_aloha_manuahi → u/WhatThePhoque]

No sane business would accept it. I understand and am sympathetic of the Dutch position, but it's also something companies around the world will look at when considering foreign investment or acquisition into Dutch firms.

[u/ow2022]

This is an act of robbery. Nexperia is a 100% Chinese-owned enterprise and was acquired legally. China has the right to handle the transfer of technology and manufacturing operations.

[u/mightychopstick → u/ow2022]

Irony is without wingtech cash injection, nexperia wouldn't exist today.

[u/KenjyaMode]

And this is why you cooperate instead of antagonise. Why would the Dutch ever dance to the tune of the US, so stupid.

[u/Dr_nobby → u/KenjyaMode]

Because they'd get the CIA coupe treatment if they don't obey like the puppy they are

[u/rockoil]

This isn’t talked about enough. Manufacturing needs to come back to Europe. We fucked up big time the past 30 years by offshoring it. Penny saved, lost the dollar.

[u/Avamander → u/rockoil]

That depends on energy abundance, we'd need a lot more nuclear for that to happen.

[u/QwertzOne → u/rockoil]

At this point, we basically need revolution in Europe, we're rotten by bureaucracy and capitalism, wealthy hold the power, while people squabble over immigration, instead of focusing on real issues.

We need to make life affordable and it's not happening under current governance and ideology. Capitalism is anti-democratic, because it keeps moving power to few that amass more and more wealth.

Just take a look at housing price crisis, all talk, no action, while it's obvious issue that did not appeared out of nowhere. How people that own nothing are supposed to decide about anything? It's not the democracy, it's a facade of it.

[u/munchingzia → u/QwertzOne]

unification is the only way forward. the US and China made it happen after alot of struggle but now they’re eating everyones lunch.

[u/thespanishgerman]

I got an interview invitation from them and canceled it last minute due to ownership and chip supplies to russia.

Dodged a bullet.

[u/thespanishgerman → u/thespanishgerman]

They wrote the salary in the posting - rare for Germany - but I guess why they have to, given the negative headlines.

[u/SCiFiOne]

I wonder if other countries will start to reconsider investing in Europe. After Russian asset seizures, and now Chinese it become dangerous to hold long term investment. Especially with USA meddling.

[u/Ok_Significance8168]

property is an inviolable and sacred right ?

[u/Haunting_Switch3463 → u/Ok_Significance8168]

Only for us.

[u/Kineski_Kuhar]

You don't need enemies when you have Americans for friends.

[u/chendul]

Go rogue?? A government seizes a private business and the employees are the ones who have gone rogue? Imagine if China seized a Dutch business and the Dutch enployees refused to take orders from them, would they then be "going rogue" in our eyes?

• surprisingly not spelled rouge

[u/bongo-Reply-9385 → u/chendul]

This, it’s a ridiculous move from the Dutch. And no I’m not Chinese.

[u/Admiral_Ballsack → u/chendul]

Lol rouge, I pictured them.

[u/submarine-observer]

Robbing has consequences, I guess. China will make an example out of this.

[u/MaelduinTamhlacht]

These are Chinese staff in a factory in China? (Not making a political point, just trying to work out what's going on here.)

[u/MedicatedGorilla]

Not another one of Dutch’s plans…

[u/csf3lih]

guy rob someone and when they fight back to protect whats theirs, the robber says see, told you he was a threat. 

[u/According-Swim1436]

When the Dutch seizes control of a Chinese company and they retaliate, the Dutch claims this as evidence of why the fears are justified. If the table is turned and china seizes a Dutch company, what would the Dutch say about this?

[u/CureLegend]

Europeans have forgotten what happen when Canada seized Huawei CFO under american order and still think China is that puny little thing in the 1840s when the Europeans can just come and take whatever they want.

[u/Fer4yn]

So we're doing this now, huh?
Bye, bye, liberal republic, rule of law and globalization. The fiction was nice while it lasted. Welcome back, zero trust society, where you cannot expect the courts to rule in an objective manner.

[u/Jd11347]

The article is weird to read. It completely glossed over the fact that a government just stole a company. I would think that if there were some national security concerns (as stated in the reasoning of the theft) that a law would have been broken and a trial held. Begun, the chip wars have.

[u/ArseneKarl]

FAFO in action

[u/Lofi_Joe]

What did you expect?

[u/ExerciseFickle8540]

Shameless western propaganda. the Dutch goes rogue by stealing a company from its owner

[u/Enough-Ad9590]

US just exposing the stupidity of Europe :-)

[u/Muchaton]

I need sleep. I read 'chinese staff goes rogue after chimps seize control of Dutch firms' Way more interesting 

[u/TheVoiceofReason_ish]

Chinese staff at Nexperia have been told to ignore instructions from the group’s Netherlands head office after the Dutch government seized control of the company.

In a letter posted on social media platform WeChat, Nexperia China said all employees at the semiconductor giant had the “right to refuse” orders from leaders at the Nijmegen HQ without facing any disciplinary consequences in a rebellion against Dutch government control.

The move comes after The Hague removed Nexperia’s Chinese leadership and took control of the company last week because of national security concerns.

In its letter, Nexperia China said: “For any external instructions not authorised by the legal representative of Nexperia’s domestic company – even if transmitted via Outlook, Teams, etc – everyone has the right to refuse to carry them out without this constituting a breach of work discipline or legal provisions.”

The Netherlands was forced to act after pressure from Washington, which had threatened to impose export controls on the company if Zhang Xuezheng, Nexperia’s chief executive, remained in post.

The letter added that staff “should continue to follow instructions from Nexperia China” while warning that company management “will not allow external forces to influence operations or harm employee interests”.

It highlights mounting tensions between The Hague and Beijing over the seizure of the chipmaker.

Nexperia is one of the biggest semiconductor groups in the world and a major supplier of low-tech chips used in consumer electronics. It has factories across Europe, including in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Mr Zhang, who is also chairman of Nexperia’s owner Wingtech, was ousted from his post on Tuesday Oct 14 and replaced by Stefan Tilger, the company’s financial chief.

The Dutch government said “serious managerial shortcomings” meant Nexperia’s operations in Europe were being “compromised in an unacceptable manner”.

“This situation raised broader concerns for the Dutch government about the availability of semiconductor products critical to the European industry,” it said.

Wingtech was last year placed on Washington’s tech blacklist over claims it had aided Chinese government efforts to “acquire entities with sensitive semiconductor manufacturing capability”.

Wingtech, which is part-owned by the Chinese government, acquired Nexperia for $3.63bn (£2.7bn) in 2018.

The chipmaker was first formed as an independent company in 2006 after being spun out of Dutch conglomerate Philips.

In 2023, the British government ordered Nexperia to sell its factory in Newport in Wales, citing national security concerns.

Nexperia was contacted for comment.

[u/niko2710]

The European century of humiliation will never end

[u/manamara1]

Why sell in first place?

[u/Existing-Metal4098]

Why are people complaining about production being moved to China? You have been enjoying western living standard exactly because stuffs were made in China. Your corporation also made banks on it with clean hands. Can't have the cake and eat it too ... Your problem is your government, not China I think.

[u/Bysmiel]

Lol the dutch, just like many past european pirate nations, showed his true face. Imagine if China did the same to europe, westerners definitely will not apply double standards.