According to a report by the Hong Kong 'South China Morning Post' on June 24, Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Frans Bovenhuis, plans to visit China in early July. It is expected that 17 corporate executives, including representatives of lithography machine giant ASML and semiconductor company NXP, will accompany him during the visit.
According to sources cited in the report, Schelzma will arrive in Beijing on July 6. He will meet with Chinese officials, attend a business roundtable, and participate in a dinner event. Subsequently, he will travel to Shanghai, where he will visit local enterprises before returning home on the 9th.
Sources mentioned that the Dutch business community was initially hesitant about this trip due to concerns that Scheltsma might discuss issues related to the Taiwan Strait and so-called human rights. After receiving Scheltsma's guarantees, these executives finally decided to go on this trip to China.
It is revealed that Ansys Semiconductor, which was involved due to forced intervention by the Dutch government, will not be included in the delegation.
Scherzma (second from the right) is meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the United States. Scheerzma's X account
Reports indicate that currently, the Dutch government is facing increasing pressure from the United States regarding the semiconductor supply chain issue.
In April, members of both parties in the US Congress proposed the "Hardware Technology Control Multilateral Cooperation Act" (MATCH Act). The plan involves establishing corresponding mechanisms to force US allies to restrict exports to China simultaneously, thereby increasing the difficulty for Chinese chip manufacturers to produce artificial intelligence chips.
The Dutch government criticizes that the bill has "extraterritorial effects," restricting the sovereign trade policies of other countries.
Although the US and China have reached an agreement to restrict ASML from exporting high-end equipment required for manufacturing artificial intelligence chips to China, there are differences between the two sides regarding whether ASML can sell such equipment to Chinese customers or provide some low-end equipment.
Regarding the restrictive measures imposed by the US side, China has expressed its position on multiple occasions.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously stated that 'small courtyards and high walls' cannot stop China's pace of innovative development, nor are they conducive to the healthy development of the entire industry, including American companies. The US should adhere to the principles of a market economy and fair competition, and support companies from various countries in promoting technological development through healthy competition.
The spokesperson also stated that China urges the Netherlands to adopt an objective and fair stance, as well as market principles, respect the spirit of contracts, and take practical actions to safeguard the common interests of both China and the Netherlands, as well as their enterprises. It is also important to maintain the stability of the international industrial and supply chains, and a free, open, fair, and non-discriminatory international trade environment. China will closely monitor the developments and resolutely protect its own legal rights and interests.
