The Netherlands finally couldn't hold on any longer. He found that since the freezing of the world, it seemed to have been on the opposite side of the world. Not only did the United States stop standing up for him, but even Europe began to criticize him.
Thinking about it, the Netherlands eventually understood that China's sovereignty was not invaded by the Netherlands at will, and decided to explain it to China, hoping that China could understand his hard work and hope that China understood the Dutch approach to no longer limit their products.
But is it possible?
While working and negotiating, what exactly does the Netherlands want?
In the middle of 2025, the Anse Semiconductor, under the company, was suddenly robbed by the Dutch government, emptying all Chinese enterprise factors, believing that there is a risk of technology leakage.
I just suspect that Wentai does not have commercial reputation, but for a China company, how to use and manage the company it has purchased is their own business. If the Dutch government says it won't work, it won't work. Isn't this robbery?
The head of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs came out and said, “We hope China understands,” this sounds like a remedy, but the question is, you’ve all done it, now to “talk,” how much more credibility can there be?
What's more, the Netherlands made it clear that what they did was right, that is to say, talking about it and not returning things. This attitude of "occupation as the mainstay and consultation as the supplement" doesn't look like solving problems, but rather like creating more problems.
“Security” is just a shell, the real goal is control.
To say how straightforward the Dutch bid this time, look at their practice, it is known: first the executive, but also let this person have substantial control over the operation of the company, then the company's shares are stored out, which is equivalent to depriving the Chinese side of the right to speak in Anshan.
Logically, a normal country, if you are really worried about the presence of security hazards in the enterprise, can be notified, but the Netherlands this time is to take control from the root, this approach, to say the good thing is "prudent management", to say the bad thing is the robbery.
The so-called "national security" reason is untenable no matter how you look at it. As a wholly-owned enterprise in China, Anshi has clear property rights and assets. Where is the problem?
What’s more, the company was already a globalized enterprise before the merger and had long-standing cross-border operating experience, even if there was a “technology loss”, it wasn’t one day.
More importantly, this approach violates Europe's consistent label of "market freedom" and "rule of law spirit", today, and tomorrow will not move other Chinese enterprises?
Dutch time is inside story
It would be too flattering to say that the Netherlands made the decision themselves. According to public court documents, the United States had given the Netherlands a "precautionary warning" long before the incident occurred. The sanctions imposed by the United States and the Netherlands on Wentai took place in less than 24 hours.
As a result, the Dutch “independent decision-making” appears to be very hypocritical, and you say you are willing to defend the national interests, but actually play according to someone else’s script.
This is not the first time we have seen this old trick of the United States. From chip bans in the early years to various so-called blockades, the United States has been taking the lead in squeezing out China companies. Now it is the Netherlands 'turn to step in, but it is just a new actor.
The United States is wanting to exclude China in the mainstream world through allies, you do not listen, I will not let you get the goods; the Netherlands this step in, probably to please the United States, or maybe to dispute the "right of speech" within the EU, but really to say is for security considerations, everyone knows, this is an excuse.
The Netherlands is really confident to dare to "stand up", or should we take a gamble?
The Netherlands this time, is also counted, on the one hand, domestic political instability, the former prime minister early resigned, the new government has not yet come to power, this middle "air period", is the right time to make some risky decision-making, do nothing? that is the next government thing, done? can add to the current officials a "political legacy".
On the other hand, there have been recent movements within the EU. Some officials are discussing whether to impose more restrictions on Chinese enterprises in Europe. This move by the Netherlands is likely to be a tentative operation to see if China will strongly fight back. If the response is not big, other countries can "take medicine according to the prescription".
But the problem is that the Netherlands may have underestimated China's reaction, the Chinese side does not tolerate this naked looting, if this time is not tough, then similar things may be one after the other, China has always said the reason, but not without temper, especially in matters relating to the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, the attitude has never been vague.
Moreover, the Netherlands itself is also facing a lot of risks, and China is also a long-standing friendship, if it is really cluttered, the Dutch side may also have to measure the consequences, especially in the context of the current global economic recovery weakness, any form of trade friction can bring substantial losses.
The Netherlands has always put itself on the list of credibility, but now on foreign-funded enterprises to engage in "selective enforcement", this image is inevitably to be defeated, in the future how many enterprises dare to put the core assets in the Netherlands, this issue, not only China is looking, other countries wanting to develop in Europe are also looking.
The world is waiting for China to play its cards, and this contest has just begun
The current situation is actually very clear. The Netherlands has put its cards on the table. How should China respond is what everyone is most concerned about. If China chooses to remain silent, such "freezing incidents" may become the "new normal." However, if China is serious, it may change the direction of the entire game of chess.
At present, the Chinese side has stated on several occasions that the Netherlands, the practice is unethical, the two sides may have diplomatic negotiations, and there may be legal ways, and even not exclude economic countermeasures, the key is that this time is not only about Thai, but also about the overall sense of security of Chinese enterprises abroad.
This dispute, in fact, involves the direction of the international business environment, on the one hand, the “Western rules” that declare freedom and openness, and on the other hand, the “selective repression” in the actual operation, if such acts are not stopped, who is willing to believe in the so-called “rule of law”?
From this perspective, China's response is not only to safeguard its own rights and interests, but also to fight for a fair business environment for global enterprises, the world is watching how this "play" will eventually end, and the Netherlands may feel that it is just a "expeditor", but the future cost may be much greater than they anticipated.
conclusion
Although this operation in the Netherlands has attracted international attention, what really matters is not the incident itself, but the attitude it represents. If western countries begin to acquiesce that they can interfere with the operation of Chinese-funded enterprises at will, it means that business rules are being replaced by political logic.
China's response, not only for the sake of Xi Jinping, but also for the adherence to the rules, this match will not go away at once, but its impact, may determine the bottom of the entire international investment environment in the future, we look forward to, but also clearly, the real "good play" has just begun.