China publishes names of Dutch spies in the feud between the Netherlands and China surrounding the chip company Nexperia.

Outgoing Minister Vincent Karremans (Economic Affairs, VVD) took over control of Nexperia in September. Following this intervention, China blocked chip exports, leading to global shortages in the automotive industry. Supplies have since resumed, but the situation is far from over.

The names of the AIVD and MIVD employees involved appeared on a Chinese-language news website in Hungary on November 29. They were noticed last week by Sense Hofstede, a China expert who closely monitors developments surrounding China.

He noticed that leaked contacts between Taiwanese and Dutch intelligence agencies were being discussed in Taiwan’s parliament. The Taiwanese media then picked it up, he says. Hofstede: “When I found the original source, it immediately struck me that not only the names of Taiwanese agents were mentioned, but also Dutch ones. That’s unusual.”

The article, which reads like an indictment of Taiwanese military service, is written in Chinese and English. It describes a visit by a Taiwanese delegation to Amsterdam last May, including a lunch with MIVD officials. Photos of the visit were published, as well as a receipt for excess baggage for the return trip, which the Taiwanese paid for.[](https://www.consumentenbond.nl/zorgverzekering?cid=PAR_BAN_Nunl_banner_cp_zorg_v2)

# Joking tone

The visitors are discussed in a mocking tone, describing them as having primarily traveled to Amsterdam to visit tourist attractions like the Red Light District and receive gifts. The language used throughout the piece is striking. For example, the Netherlands is repeatedly referred to as the “former colonial ruler.” It’s also noteworthy that the Nexperia logo has been added to the article and that the blog post was written by an author who hasn’t previously published on the site.

Hofstede has no doubt that China was the sender, given the choice of subject, the method used with the shady website, and the main targets – Taiwan and the Netherlands. According to Taipei, the author’s name was used only once.

According to the article, a Dutch return visit to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, took place in November. This delegation consisted of six AIVD and MIVD officials, and their names and positions are listed. According to the author, the Dutch services wanted Taiwan to help recruit two of China’s leading experts in chip technology.

Hofstede believes China wants to send a message with the publication: “It could be a warning to other European services: beware, collaborating with Taiwan has consequences. We know what you’re doing. Or it could be a targeted message to the Netherlands.” He points out that the MIVD (Military Intelligence and Security Service) was one of the agencies that publicly described the activities of the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon this year.

# No statements

The AIVD (General Intelligence and Security Service) responded by saying it had “taken note of the article.” The spokesperson said they could not comment further on questions about the identity of the agents. “We never make statements about our employees.” Whether the Netherlands responded diplomatically to the Chinese provocation is also unclear. Publishing the names of secret agents harms their position and directly impacts Dutch security interests.

The Chinese embassy in The Hague did not respond to an emailed request for questions on Monday afternoon.

Susanne Kamerling, a China researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre, has never before seen China publish the names of foreign intelligence officers. Kamerling: “It looks like a smear campaign and a counterintelligence operation rolled into one.” She considers a connection with Nexperia highly likely. “The timing of the article is interesting. It appears to be part of a package of measures China is using to retaliate against the Netherlands.”

She points out that relations between the United States and China have long been strained, particularly when it comes to counterintelligence operations. Between 2010 and 2012, China managed to track down and arrest dozens of CIA informants through an intelligence leak. Some were executed. Conversely, dozens of Chinese spies have been arrested and convicted in the US in recent years, primarily for stealing high-tech knowledge. Political influence, such as in this Dutch case, is less common.