The latest tensions emerged after Nexperia’s headquarters in the Netherlands reportedly blocked Chinese employees’ access to internal office accounts, which – according to the Chinese branch – severely disrupted the company’s normal operations. Beijing described the move as an action that “triggered new conflicts” and complicated negotiations between the parties involved.
China’s Ministry of Commerce warned directly that if the Dutch side’s actions lead to further disruptions in the global semiconductor supply chain, “the Dutch side will bear responsibility.” Nexperia, based in the Netherlands, acknowledged that actions affecting IT systems had taken place, but disputed claims that they caused production disruptions at the company’s facilities in Guangdong province.
The dispute between the two parts of the company has been ongoing for several months and also has a geopolitical dimension. Although Nexperia is formally a Dutch company, it is owned by the Chinese technology group Wingtech, which acquired the firm in 2018. In 2025, the Dutch government assumed control over the company’s management, citing economic security concerns and the need to protect semiconductor technology.
The conflict has already begun to affect the global chip market. In October, Beijing introduced export controls on Nexperia chips produced in China, which disrupted automobile manufacturing worldwide because the company’s components are widely used in vehicle electronics. Although diplomatic negotiations temporarily stabilized the situation, the latest escalation has again raised concerns about the stability of semiconductor supply chains.
The situation has been further complicated by the fact that Nexperia’s Chinese division previously declared its independence from the Dutch management in response to the headquarters’ actions, while shipments of semiconductor wafers from Europe to the Guangdong facility have been halted. Mediation efforts led by Beijing, The Hague and Brussels have so far failed to resolve the dispute.