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Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Chinese Spying on Dutch Industries ‘Intensifying': Dutch Defence Minister
Terje Pedersen via REUTERS Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans attends a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo, Norway May 9, 2025. SINGAPORE, May 31 (Reuters) – Chinese efforts to spy on the Dutch are intensifying, with the focus on semiconductors, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Saturday. 'The semiconductor industry, which we are technologically leading, or technology advanced, of course, to get that intellectual property – that's interesting to China,' Brekelmans said in an interview on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore. The Dutch military intelligence agency said in its annual report in April last year that Chinese spies have targeted the Dutch semiconductor, aerospace and maritime industries to try to strengthen China's armed forces. When asked if the spying had stopped, Brekelmans said: 'It's continuing. In our newest intelligence reports, our intelligence agency said that the biggest cyber threat is coming from China, and that we do see most cyber activity when it comes to us being as from China. That was the case last year, but that's still the case. So we only see this intensifying.' China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Beijing routinely denies allegations of cyber espionage and says it opposes all forms of cyberattack. Dutch intelligence agencies first publicly attributed cyber espionage to China last year, when they said state-backed cyber spies had gained access to a Dutch military network in 2023. Brekelmans said 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 said the Netherlands has introduced instruments to protect key industries and vital interests but the country and region also need to reduce their dependency on China for critical raw materials. 'Both on the European Union level, but also on the national level, we need to make bigger steps in order to reduce those dependencies.'
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Sweden to summon Israeli ambassador over Gaza
FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson attends a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo, Norway May 9, 2025. NTB/Terje Pedersen via REUTERS/File Photo COPENHAGEN - Sweden's foreign ministry will summon Israel's ambassador in Stockholm to protest against a lack of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Monday. Last week, under growing international pressure, Israeli authorities allowed a trickle of aid into the Palestinian enclave but the few hundred trucks carried only a tiny fraction of the food needed by a population of 2 million at risk of famine after nearly three months of blockade. Kristersson told Swedish news agency TT that the European Union should impose sanctions and exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. "We have been incredibly clear about that, ourselves and together with many other European countries," Kristersson told TT. "That pressure is now increasing, no doubt, and for very good reasons," he said. The Swedish prime minister's office confirmed to Reuters that Kristersson had made the statement. Israel launched an air and ground war in Gaza after Hamas militants' cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people by Israeli tallies and saw 251 hostages abducted into Gaza. The Israeli campaign has since killed more than 53,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip. Aid groups say signs of severe malnutrition are widespread. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Swedish PM says jailed reporter on his way home from Turkey
FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson attends a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Oslo, Norway May 9, 2025. NTB/Terje Pedersen via REUTERS Swedish PM says jailed reporter on his way home from Turkey STOCKHOLM - Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who was jailed in March in Turkey on terrorism and insult charges, is on his way home, Sweden's Prime Minister said on Friday. "Hard work in relative silence has paid off," Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X on Friday evening, adding that Medin would land in Sweden in a few hours. Kristersson thanked the foreign office and European colleagues for helping secure Medin's release. Medin, who was in Turkey to cover protests against Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, was charged with "insulting the president" and "membership of a terrorist organization and jailed pending trial. Turkish authorities said Medin was among 15 suspects identified for organizing, promoting, or being linked to a demonstration in Stockholm in 2023, where a mannequin resembling President Tayyip Erdogan was hung outside the city hall. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Starmer hosts Swedish PM in Downing Street
The Prime Minister's meeting with Ulf Kristersson was the third between the two men in four days, having spoken at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Oslo last Friday and again in Kyiv on Saturday. Welcoming Mr Kristersson to Number 10 'at a really important time', Sir Keir said: 'I think our relationship is as strong as it has ever been. 'We think alike and act alike, particularly on issues like Ukraine and global affairs.' Mr Kristersson in turn praised Sir Keir for taking on a 'leadership responsibility', and said the meeting showed 'how much we appreciate the way you are acting together with the rest of us in Europe right now'. Earlier in the day, Mr Kristersson had met with British and Swedish defence companies. Sweden joined Nato last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and has backed Britain and France's plans for a 'coalition of the willing' to deploy a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. On Monday, Sweden joined other Nordic and Baltic countries in reiterating calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and commending Volodymyr Zelensky for his willingness to meet Vladimir Putin in person. Following Monday's meeting, a Downing Street spokesperson said the pair had 'agreed to continue support for Ukraine and put the pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table – without conditions'. As well as discussing Sweden's contribution to Operation Interflex, the UK effort to train Ukrainian troops, the spokesperson said the two men agreed to 'closer working' on trade, defence and nuclear power.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer hosts Swedish PM in Downing Street
Britain's relationship with Sweden is 'as strong as it has ever been', Sir Keir Starmer said as he welcomed the Swedish prime minister to Downing Street on Monday. The Prime Minister's meeting with Ulf Kristersson was the third between the two men in four days, having spoken at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Oslo last Friday and again in Kyiv on Saturday. Welcoming Mr Kristersson to Number 10 'at a really important time', Sir Keir said: 'I think our relationship is as strong as it has ever been. 'We think alike and act alike, particularly on issues like Ukraine and global affairs.' Mr Kristersson in turn praised Sir Keir for taking on a 'leadership responsibility', and said the meeting showed 'how much we appreciate the way you are acting together with the rest of us in Europe right now'. Earlier in the day, Mr Kristersson had met with British and Swedish defence companies. Sweden joined Nato last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and has backed Britain and France's plans for a 'coalition of the willing' to deploy a peacekeeping force in the event of a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. On Monday, Sweden joined other Nordic and Baltic countries in reiterating calls for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire and commending Volodymyr Zelensky for his willingness to meet Vladimir Putin in person. Following Monday's meeting, a Downing Street spokesperson said the pair had 'agreed to continue support for Ukraine and put the pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table – without conditions'. As well as discussing Sweden's contribution to Operation Interflex, the UK effort to train Ukrainian troops, the spokesperson said the two men agreed to 'closer working' on trade, defence and nuclear power.
