Chinese Chipmaker’s Technology Transfer Plans Were Long Known to Dutch Officials, Former Nexperia CEO Claims

Dutch Government Faces Scrutiny Over Semiconductor Technology Transfer Awareness

In a revelation that has sent ripples through the global semiconductor industry, the former chief executive of Nexperia has claimed that Dutch officials were fully aware of plans to transfer sensitive chip technology to China for years before public concerns emerged. According to these allegations, government authorities maintained a notable silence despite knowing that Nexperia’s Chinese parent company, Wingtech Technology, had explicit intentions to relocate valuable intellectual property and manufacturing capabilities to mainland China. The disclosure raises significant questions about the Netherlands’ oversight of critical technology transfers during a period of intensifying global competition in semiconductor manufacturing.

“Dutch officials had been briefed on multiple occasions about Wingtech’s strategic roadmap for Nexperia’s technology,” the former CEO stated in comments that have sparked debate across European technology policy circles. “There was never any secrecy about the parent company’s long-term plans to develop Chinese semiconductor self-sufficiency using acquired Dutch expertise.” This awareness reportedly extended to multiple government departments responsible for economic security and foreign investment screening, yet resulted in no preventative action until geopolitical tensions around semiconductor supply chains heightened in recent years. The former executive’s statements suggest a disconnect between early intelligence about technology transfer intentions and the delayed regulatory response that eventually emerged.

Semiconductor Industry at Center of Growing Geopolitical Tensions

The allegations emerge against a backdrop of increasingly fraught global competition in advanced chip manufacturing. Nexperia, headquartered in Nijmegen, has established itself as a significant player in the semiconductor market, specializing in essential components for automotive systems, mobile devices, and industrial applications. Its acquisition by China’s Wingtech Technology in 2019 immediately raised eyebrows among security analysts concerned about potential technology transfers. Semiconductors have become the focal point of strategic competition between Western nations and China, with the Netherlands occupying a particularly sensitive position due to its expertise in chip manufacturing equipment and design. The country hosts ASML, the world’s leading manufacturer of advanced lithography machines essential for producing cutting-edge chips, making Dutch semiconductor assets particularly valuable targets for technology transfer.

The revelation of long-standing awareness about transfer intentions highlights the complex challenge facing Western governments as they attempt to balance open investment environments with protecting critical technologies. “The semiconductor industry represents not just economic value but strategic capability,” explained Dr. Helena Thorsson, a technology policy researcher at the University of Amsterdam. “What we’re seeing is the painful recalibration of how Western governments approach Chinese investment in this sector, often after years of permissive policies.” Industry experts note that Nexperia’s case is particularly significant because it involves power semiconductors and gallium nitride technology with applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and potentially defense technologies – all areas where China has stated ambitions to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers.

Regulatory Response and Economic Security Concerns

Dutch authorities have recently strengthened their approach to foreign investment screening, particularly in sensitive technology sectors, but the former Nexperia CEO’s claims suggest these measures may have come years after officials first understood the risks. The Netherlands has aligned with broader European and American efforts to restrict certain semiconductor technologies from transfer to China, implementing more rigorous review mechanisms for foreign acquisitions and export controls on advanced chip manufacturing equipment. However, these allegations point to a period of regulatory hesitation that may have allowed significant technology transfer planning to progress unchallenged.

“There’s always a tension between attracting foreign investment and protecting strategic industries,” noted Willem van der Meer, an economic security analyst formerly with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. “What’s striking about these claims is not that officials eventually acted, but how long they reportedly waited while knowing the declared intentions.” The situation highlights evolving definitions of national security that now explicitly include technological sovereignty and supply chain resilience – concepts that were less prominent in regulatory frameworks when Nexperia’s acquisition was initially approved. Industry observers point out that the Netherlands, like many European countries, has had to rapidly develop more sophisticated approaches to economic security as technology competition with China intensified.

Global Implications and Industry Response

The semiconductor industry has responded to these revelations with concern about regulatory predictability and investment security. European chip manufacturers, already navigating complex export control regimes and geopolitical pressures, now face additional questions about how transparently government officials communicate concerns about foreign ownership. “Companies need consistent signals from regulators about what constitutes acceptable foreign investment,” said Martijn Dekker, chairperson of the European Semiconductor Industry Association. “If officials had concerns about Nexperia’s ownership structure but didn’t act on them for years, that creates significant uncertainty for the entire sector.”

The allegations also highlight broader challenges in global technology governance as countries increasingly view semiconductor capabilities through a national security lens. The United States has pursued aggressive restrictions on China’s access to advanced chip technologies, while the European Union has launched the European Chips Act to strengthen domestic semiconductor production. Against this backdrop, the Netherlands occupies a crucial position as home to companies with unique capabilities in the global semiconductor supply chain. The country’s approach to managing Chinese investment in this sector carries implications that extend far beyond its borders, potentially affecting how allied nations coordinate technology transfer policies and export controls.

Future of Dutch Semiconductor Policy and Transparency Requirements

As Dutch authorities confront these allegations, pressure is mounting for greater transparency in how foreign investments in critical technology sectors are evaluated and monitored. Parliamentary inquiries have been proposed to examine the timeline of official awareness about Wingtech’s plans for Nexperia’s technology and whether appropriate safeguards were implemented. “The semiconductor industry represents the Netherlands’ technological crown jewels,” said Member of Parliament Joost van Velsen, who specializes in economic security matters. “Citizens deserve to know whether these assets were adequately protected and what influenced decision-making around foreign acquisitions in this sector.”

The controversy may accelerate pending legislation to strengthen investment screening mechanisms and impose more rigorous reporting requirements for technology transfers in strategic industries. Industry stakeholders are calling for clearer guidelines about what constitutes sensitive technology and how ownership transitions will be evaluated. Meanwhile, Nexperia continues operations under Chinese ownership, though with heightened regulatory scrutiny and export compliance requirements. The company maintains that it operates independently with strong corporate governance protections, while acknowledging its parent company’s strategic interests in developing semiconductor capabilities in China. As global competition for semiconductor supremacy intensifies, the Dutch experience offers a cautionary tale about the challenges of balancing open investment policies with the protection of strategically vital technologies in an era of resurgent technological nationalism.