China seeks Germany's intervention in Nexperia dispute

China is urging Germany to persuade the Netherlands to revoke its seizure of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, a move Beijing sees as crucial to resolving the ongoing trade dispute. Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke about the matter in a telephone call with his German counterpart, reports Reuters.

The dispute began on September 30, 2025, when the Dutch government seized control of Nexperia, a Chinese-owned chipmaker, citing national security concerns. This action led to a furious response from Beijing, which accused the Netherlands of political interference and imposed export controls on Nexperia chips. These controls halted deliveries of Nexperia chips from Chinese facilities to Europe and froze shipments of key supplies needed for chip production in China.

However, by November 7, some relief arrived as Volkswagen announced the resumption of Nexperia chip supplies, following exemptions granted by Beijing for civilian applications. Despite these exemptions, the details surrounding the initial knowledge leak and security risks that prompted the export ban remain unclear.

China's appeal to Germany

In light of the ongoing stalemate, China is now seeking Germany's intervention to urge the Dutch government to reverse its decision. Wang conveyed this hope to his German counterpart, emphasizing that revoking the seizure is key to resolving the dispute. Wang expressed China's desire for Germany to play an active role in persuading the Netherlands to take practical steps to correct its 'erroneous practices' and promote an early resolution. China also welcomes the EU's continued efforts to urge the Netherlands to correct its erroneous practices as soon as possible.

While China seeks Germany's assistance, Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Vincent Karremans has not directly addressed China's demand to have the seizure revoked. Instead, Karremans stated that the Netherlands and the EU will collaborate to repair supply chains as quickly as possible.