MOFCOM:Netherlands Bears “Full Responsibility” for Nexperia Supply Chain Chaos

On November 4, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson issued an official statement regarding the escalating Nexperia semiconductor crisis, placing full blame on the Netherlands for the resulting turmoil in the global supply chain.

The spokesperson stated that a series of “improper measures” by the Dutch side has seriously infringed on the legitimate rights of Chinese enterprises and directly caused the supply chain disruption.

Here are the key points from the Ministry’s official statement:

1. Netherlands Accused of Interference and Escalation

The spokesperson outlined a timeline of events, accusing the Dutch government of initiating the crisis.

• “Improper Interference”: It was stated that the Dutch government’s administrative order on September 30 “improperly interfered” in Nexperia’s internal corporate affairs.
• “Erroneous Ruling”: This was followed by what MOFCOM called an “erroneous ruling” from a Dutch enterprise court, which stripped the Chinese enterprise of its equity rights, constituting a “serious infringement”.
• “Escalating the Crisis”: The spokesperson claims that the Dutch government ignored China’s “reasonable demands” in negotiations, showed no constructive attitude, and “escalated the global supply chain crisis”.
• “Full Responsibility”: The statement directly attributes the chaos to the October 26 announcement by Nexperia (Netherlands) to “stop supplying wafers to Nexperia (China),” which halted production. “The Dutch side should bear full responsibility for this,” the spokesperson said.

2. China Highlights Its Own “Responsible” Actions

MOFCOM contrasted the Netherlands’ actions with its own, positioning China as a stabilizing force.

• The spokesperson emphasized that China, acting “responsibly for the stability and security” of the supply chain, announced on November 1 that it would “grant exemptions for qualified exports” and “strive to promote” the resumption of supply to Nexperia (China).
• However, the ministry claims the Dutch side “continues to act willfully” (一意孤行) and has taken “no practical action” to resolve the problem. This, the spokesperson warned, “will inevitably deepen the adverse impact” on the global semiconductor supply chain.

3. China’s Demand: “Stop Interfering”

The statement concluded with a clear set of demands for the Netherlands:

• China hopes the Dutch side will “meet China halfway” (相向而行) and consider the “overall situation of China-Netherlands and China-EU economic and trade relations”.
• The ministry called for the Netherlands to “stop interfering in internal corporate affairs” and work with China to find a “constructive solution”.
• Finally, the spokesperson affirmed that China will “firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests” of its enterprises while continuing to “strive to stabilize” the global semiconductor supply chain.