Netherlands seizes control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, citing European security threat
Oct 13, 2025
Key Points
- The Dutch government seized control of Nexperia, a chipmaker majority-owned by Chinese group Wingtech, invoking emergency powers to protect European access to semiconductors critical for automotive and consumer electronics.
- The Amsterdam Court of Appeal immediately suspended CEO Zhang Zhu Zhang after three executives challenged the seizure, marking an unusually aggressive state intervention compared to U.S. approaches that preserve operational independence.
- The move overlaps with escalating U.S.-China tensions, as China imposed sweeping export restrictions on rare earth products the same week the Dutch action became public.
Summary
The Dutch government has seized control of Nexperia, a Netherlands-based chipmaker majority-owned by Chinese technology group Wingtech since 2019. The Ministry of Economic Affairs invoked the Goods Availability Act, citing threats to European economic security and serious governance shortcomings. Economy Minister Vincent Karamans now has authority to block decisions made by Nexperia's board.
On September 30, the government issued an order requiring Nexperia and its global subsidiaries to make no adjustments to assets, property, business operations, or personnel for one year. The order became public only on October 12.
Three top Nexperia executives with Dutch and German nationalities filed an emergency request with the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. The court immediately suspended CEO Zhang Zhu Zhang, removing him from his position.
Nexperia produces chips used in European automotive and consumer electronics. The seizure represents a sharper assertion of state control than recent Western approaches to critical tech assets. The U.S. government has taken smaller equity stakes in semiconductor companies while preserving operational independence. The Dutch move goes further.
The timing aligns with escalating U.S.-China tech tensions. The same week the seizure was announced, China placed sweeping restrictions on exports of rare earth-using products, from cars to wind turbines. The specific catalyst for the Dutch action remains unclear from public statements, though the context suggests concerns about asset control and knowledge transfer risk during geopolitical strain.