Netherlands Accuses China Of Spying On Dutch Semiconductor Industry
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While China has yet to respond to the claims, it has always denied allegations of cyber espionage and said it opposes all forms of cyberattack.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated on Saturday that China is intensifying its espionage efforts against the Netherlands, particularly targeting the semiconductor industry.
'The semiconductor industry, in which we are technologically leading, or technologically advanced, is of course, a target for intellectual property theft – that's of interest to China," Brekelmans said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore.
Earlier this year, in April, Dutch military intelligence accused China of spying on the semiconductor, aerospace, and maritime industries to bolster its armed forces.
When asked whether Beijing had ceased its espionage activities, Brekelmans cited Dutch intelligence agency reports and said, 'It's continuing. In our newest intelligence reports, our intelligence agency stated that the biggest cyber threat is coming from China, and that we see that most cyber activity targeting us originates from China. That was the case last year, and it remains the case. We are observing an intensification of this activity."
While China has not yet responded to these specific claims, it has consistently denied allegations of cyber espionage and stated its opposition to all forms of cyberattack.
Dutch agencies first reported Chinese espionage in 2023, claiming that state-backed cyber spies had infiltrated a Dutch military network that year.
Brekelmans explained that security is becoming increasingly important for the Netherlands as China is 'using their economic position for geopolitical purposes and also to pressure us".
The minister stated that while the Netherlands has implemented measures to protect key industries and vital national interests, both the country and the wider region must also work to lessen their dependence on China for critical raw materials.
'Both at the European Union level and at the national level, we need to take more significant steps to reduce those dependencies," he said.
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First Published:
May 31, 2025, 20:20 IST
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