Dutch intelligence calls China biggest threat to its economic security

This is reported by Reuters, Ukrinform reports.

According to the report, despite the fact that the Netherlands considers China to be its main trading partner, it is trying to illegally obtain Dutch and other Western technologies through its military ambitions.

“Chinese companies and knowledge institutions are sometimes valued partners for Dutch institutions. At the same time, the country forms the greatest threat to Dutch economic security,” the agency said.

“China uses both legitimate investments, corporate takeovers and academic cooperation, as well as illegal (digital) espionage, insiders, covert investments and illegal exports. Dutch companies, knowledge institutions and scientists are regularly victims of this,” the AIVD said.

The main target for China, according to Dutch intelligence, is the semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML, which is the world’s main supplier of lithography machines used to make computer chips and for which China is the third largest market.

On March 8, the Dutch government announced its intention to impose export restrictions on semiconductor technologies in line with the US restrictions that were put in place in October 2022 and are intended to prevent China from producing its own semiconductors. 

The technical details of the decision are still unknown, but in March, ASML said it expects new licensing requirements for some of its advanced tools.

In February, the AIVD reported that Russia had been spying on wind turbines and infrastructure in the Dutch North Sea for possible sabotage, and in 2022 the Dutch government expelled 17 Russians involved in Russian intelligence services.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the new US defense strategy identifies Russia and China as the biggest threats.