● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportHigh impact
Dutch semiconductor industry faces high risk of Chinese interference, study finds
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies warns that the Dutch semiconductor sector is at very high risk of Chinese interference, exceeding vulnerabilities in maritime and aerospace. The report calls for stricter vetting processes and a public-private fund aimed at replacing high-risk foreign hardware.
Key points
- Dutch chip industry rated high risk of Chinese interference
- Calls for stricter personnel vetting at sensitive sites
- Proposes resilience fund for replacing foreign hardware
High Risk Assessment
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies has categorized the Dutch semiconductor industry as facing a severe risk of Chinese interference, surpassing even aerospace and maritime sectors. The assessment highlights a history of espionage incidents involving companies like ASML and NXP.
Espionage and Vulnerabilities
The report notes that ASML has dealt with multiple insider theft incidents since 2015, with data on its lithography tools being stolen by a former employee based in China. Additionally, the Dutch military intelligence service MIVD has identified the semiconductor industry, along with maritime and aerospace sectors, as targets for Chinese spying activities in its latest report.
Recommendations for Stricter Vetting
Suggestions from the report include higher scrutiny of personnel at critical sites, proposing a tiered vetting process based on access levels to sensitive information. This would involve more thorough checks for individuals in positions of trust, designed to mitigate risks of bribery or blackmail.
Creation of a Resilience Fund
The report advocates for a public-private resilience fund to replace high-risk foreign components in sensitive technologies, such as server motherboards and baseboard management controllers. This initiative would align with EU and NATO efforts to strengthen supply chains by investing in European-made alternatives.
Legal and Policy Challenges
The Dutch anti-discrimination laws currently limit the implementation of targeted screening practices against specific nationalities, particularly regarding Chinese nationals. The report suggests revising these approaches while fostering collaboration with the EU to enhance security measures across the semiconductor supply chain.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies warns that the Dutch semiconductor sector is at very high risk of Chinese interference, exceeding vulnerabilities in maritime and aerospace. The report calls for stricter vetting processes and a public-private fund aimed at replacing high-risk foreign hardware.