The semiconductor industry is a key espionage target for China, according to Ruben Brekelmans.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans warned Saturday that Chinese cyber espionage targeting the Netherlands is intensifying, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) particularly focused on stealing advanced semiconductor technology.
“The semiconductor industry, which we are technologically leading—or technology advanced, of course—to get that intellectual property, that’s interesting to China,” Brekelmans told Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on May 30.
Chinese spies have set their sights on Dutch semiconductor, aerospace, and maritime industries in an effort to advance China’s military power, according to the Dutch military intelligence agency’s latest annual report, released on April 22. It highlights a “whole-of-society” approach by the CCP that blurs the lines between legitimate academic exchange and covert technology transfer.
“In the Netherlands, we have seen Chinese activities in the area of unwanted knowledge transfer of high-quality Dutch technology such as semiconductors,” the report states. These transfers occur through both legal channels—like investments and research partnerships—and illegal ones, including cyber espionage and export control evasion.
Brekelmans said that the threat has not abated.
“It’s continuing. In our newest intelligence reports, our intelligence agency said that the biggest cyber threat is coming from China, and that we do see most cyber activity when it comes to us being as from China. That was the case last year, but that’s still the case. So we only see this intensifying.”
The Dutch intelligence report also noted that China’s espionage extends into critical infrastructure, citing successful cyberattacks against defense networks and the use of malware targeting network devices.
One campaign cited in the report saw Chinese state-sponsored actor “Salt Typhoon” access U.S. telecom providers for over a year, intercepting communications from officials and potentially penetrating law enforcement networks. Dutch intelligence warned that European telecoms are likely similarly targeted. Brekelmans said the Dutch government has begun introducing safeguards, but acknowledged that further steps are needed.
The Dutch warning adds to growing global concern over Chinese influence and espionage operations.
A February report from cybersecurity firm Recorded Future indicates that Chinese hackers linked to Salt Typhoon are still infiltrating telecom networks in the United States.
By Tom Ozimek
