While the world was still struggling with the semiconductor supply chain, the Netherlands suddenly reached out to "rob" China company Anshi Semiconductor. The reason sounds high-sounding and is said to be out of "national security" and "EU interests."
However, it was thought that China would "express concerns" through diplomatic channels as always, and did not think that this time the Chinese side directly ended the "combination kick", six days later, the Netherlands could not withstand, and actively shouted to China: "Will to negotiate."
The Lightning War in the Netherlands: In the name of security, the picture is control
Things have to start on October 12th. On that day, the Dutch government suddenly issued a "freezing order" on Nexperia on the grounds that the company involved "national security" and might affect the stability of the supply chain of the entire EU.
It sounds official, but on closer inspection, you can see that the core measure is to directly intervene in the company's management, remove the Chinese-appointed CEO, and let the Netherlands designate a person to take over. It also requires the company to select a "foreign" director as the decision-maker.
On the surface, it is about preventing risks, but in fact it is about control. Although Anshi operates in the Netherlands, it is backed by China capital. The Netherlands 'move is actually to "Dutchize" the company without spending a penny, cut off its technical, strategic and personnel ties with China, and turn this "fat meat" into its own use. More importantly, this operation was not created by the Netherlands, but followed in the footsteps of the United States.
In recent years, the United States has vigorously promoted the so-called "penetrating principle", that is, tracing the ultimate control right of enterprises. As long as there is the shadow of China behind it, it must be restricted.
The Netherlands, as the headquarters of the light engraving giant ASML, was already tied to the United States in the semiconductor strategy, and now goes hand in hand with Einstein, it is not difficult to see that it is another link to cooperate with the United States in the global scope of "obstruction of Chinese technology".
However, the Netherlands obviously underestimated China's response speed and overestimated its confidence in "stabilizing after grabbing it". Nexperia has more than 1,500 employees in the Netherlands and an investment of hundreds of millions. It has long been deeply embedded in the European industrial chain. Once the Netherlands messes up, it will not only hurt China's mood, but may also damage itself and the entire European semiconductor layout. All dragged into the quagmire.
China's "combination boxing": no noise, no noise, just lift the table
This time, China did not go past the old way of "protesting first, after negotiating", but simply fell down and rolled the table directly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke at the first time, clearly qualifying the actions of the Netherlands as "political intervention in the market economy", is naked protectionism. This statement, not a process, but a legal and moral tone for follow-up actions.
Immediately afterwards, the Ministry of Commerce came out and played two tricks.The first trick was to restrict rare earth exports. Do not look at this thing, it is the key material for making chips, electric cars, motors.
China is the world's largest supplier of rare earths, and this move directly strained the nerves of high-end manufacturing across Europe. Especially the German automobile industry, which is already in a hurry due to the shortage of chips, this makes things worse.
The second step is more precise, the Ministry of Commerce to implement export controls on Anselm Semiconductor, suspending its supply of key components and raw materials needed for 70% of the production capacity in China.It is said, even if the Netherlands took the management of Anselm, it is also equivalent to taking an empty shell, without China's supply chain support, can not move at all, products can not sell.
These two tricks are very particular. They neither directly target local Dutch enterprises nor "black out" the whole EU. Instead, they make the Netherlands feel the pain of "the stolen things are not easy to use" through precise strikes. There was no shouting or fanfare in the whole process. It was entirely based on strength and rhythm to let the other party see the situation clearly.
Industry reports show that China accounts for more than 80% of the global market share in rare earth refining and processing of some semiconductor materials. This is not a threat to slap the head, but a real "stuck neck" ability. The Netherlands wanted to use administrative means to decouple, but as a result, it was drawn into real risks.
The backlash of the industrial chain: It's not that the Netherlands doesn't want to grab it, it's that it can't bear it
Only six days after the counterattack, the European industrial chain began to fry. On October 16, Nexperia issued notices to a number of global automakers that some products will be delayed in delivery due to supply disruptions. This stabbed a hornet's nest. Volkswagen and BMW in Germany, Renault in France, and Ford in the United States have all stated that if the supply of chips is cut off, the factory will stop production.
These companies are not vegetarian. They immediately transmitted the pressure to the Dutch government and made it clear: If you do not solve this problem, who will bear the losses? Only then did the Dutch government realize that its self-perceived "national security" move not only failed to control the company, but also quickly put itself on fire.
On October 17, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Karemans, stood up and spoke: willing to negotiate with China to solve the current management problem. He also stressed that the Anse Semiconductor is an important scientific and technological asset in the Netherlands and has an irreplaceable role in the overall development of Europe.
But behind this statement is actually an awkward contradictory mentality. On the one hand, he wants to save face and is unwilling to admit that his behavior in robbing companies was inappropriate. On the other hand, he is afraid that he will really bring down Anshi and cause the entire European supply chain to suffer.
This is not a problem that can be solved by compromise, but a reality that has taught the Netherlands a lesson-in today's globalization, any unilateral manipulation and administrative intervention will be torn to pieces by the industrial chain.
More importantly, the wave also makes other countries realise that the so-called “risk-taking” becomes “risk-added” once the market principle is removed.
Especially under the influence of U.S. high-pressure policies, many European countries swing on China's science and technology policy, but this time the Dutch "robbing companies" behavior if it does not get substantial benefits, instead trigger economic shock, I am afraid that more countries will start to recalculate.
Behind this game, it is actually deeper than the surface. Against the background of increasingly fierce competition between China and the United States, some small and medium-sized countries are trying to please Washington and get a share of Chinese enterprises by cooperating with American policies. However, the reality has proved that plunder can't get a sense of security, and if you lose trust, you will have to pay it back sooner or later.
The Netherlands is now willing to negotiate, not to realize, but not to endure. Cooperation is two-way and mutual trust is the bottom line. Whether a consensus can be reached in the future, it is also necessary to see if the Netherlands really has the courage to let go of prejudice and face China in an equal attitude.
The global supply chain has long been no longer the era of a country, the rules must be based on mutual benefit and win-win. The fate of an enterprise is not only the interests of the shareholders, but also the stability and order of the global economy. This "breaking" wave, sounded not only the alarm bell of the Netherlands, but also a reminder to all who try to manipulate the rules of the market: the road of cooperation can go a long way, the road, not long.
References:
Is China holding consultations with the Netherlands on its takeover of the Anchor Semiconductor? — Foreign Ministry response — 2025-10-17 15:45 · Global Net