Authorities Invoke Special Powers Over Security Concerns
The Netherlands has moved to take charge of Nexperia, a semiconductor firm owned by China’s Wingtech Technology, citing governance failures and threats to national security. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said it had used emergency legal authority to suspend parts of the company’s management powers and appoint independent officials to oversee operations. Nexperia, which operates from its headquarters in Nijmegen, has been under Wingtech’s majority ownership since 2019.
Decision Aims to Safeguard Sensitive Technology
According to Dutch officials, the intervention seeks to protect the nation’s semiconductor industry and ensure critical expertise remains under domestic control. While state supervision has been imposed on high-level corporate decisions, production at Nexperia’s facilities will continue unaffected. The action is part of a wider European effort to limit exposure to foreign control in sectors deemed vital to technological innovation and security resilience.
Wingtech Condemns the Move and Plans Legal Action
Wingtech has sharply criticized the Netherlands’ decision, calling it politically motivated and discriminatory toward Chinese investors. The company insists that it has complied with all relevant laws and announced its intention to contest the intervention in court. The case represents the first time the Dutch government has used emergency economic powers to intervene in a foreign-owned technology business, signaling a firm shift in its approach to protecting strategic industries.
