China has been attempting to acquire equipment and knowledge from the Netherlands’ aerospace sector, according to Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD. The MIVD’s head, Jan Swillens, warned that the Netherlands remained an attractive target for Chinese espionage in the semiconductor industry, quantum technology, and the aerospace and maritime industry. Swillens revealed that his service had “detected and prevented various Chinese attempts to acquire (military) technology”. The MIVD also identified cover organisations that China was using to work around export restrictions.
The MIVD added that China is racing to develop advanced weapons with advanced technologies, including different types of anti-satellite weapons. The agency said that China is working intensively to increase satellite launches, seeking to conduct as many as 100 a year, up from 40 in 2020. China’s aim is to lead the way in space through the development of state-of-the-art quantum communication networks with global coverage. The Dutch agency noted that this form of communication is more difficult to intercept and confers a “major military advantage”.
The Netherlands is a European leader in manufacturing chips, which are indispensable components for goods including smartphones, connected vehicles, and military hardware. In March, The Hague announced plans for new export restrictions on technology to make computer chips in order to limit Chinese access to the technology under pressure from Washington. The curbs are expected to affect Dutch-based ASML, Europe’s largest semiconductor tech company.
