Sinica Podcast Finbarr Bermingham of the SCMP on Nexperia, Export Controls, and Europe's Impossible Position
Nov 20, 2025
Finbarr Bermingham, Brussels correspondent for the South China Morning Post, delves into the intriguing Nexperia semiconductor dispute, illustrating the clash between U.S. pressures and European strategies. He reveals how the Netherlands invoked a Cold War law to seize control of Nexperia amid fears of technology transfer to China. The discussion also touches on China's retaliatory export controls and the complexities of European policies, highlighting how the saga could reshape EU investment strategies and the dynamics between China and Europe.
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Convergence Of Tech, Supply Chains, And Geopolitics
- Nexperia's seizure revealed tangled tech, supply-chain, and geopolitical pressures converging at once.
- The Dutch move followed the U.S. affiliate rule that suddenly implicated Nexperia due to Wingtech ownership.
Court Records Expose Longstanding Worries
- Dutch court documents showed longstanding governance concerns at Nexperia predating the 2025 crisis.
- Those records also revealed clear U.S. pressure on the Netherlands to remove Chinese management.
U.S. Warning Reframed Dutch Choices
- Washington warned the Dutch the affiliate rule was coming and urged ownership change or Nexperia would be treated as an affiliate.
- That U.S. warning decisively reframed Dutch decision-making under geopolitical duress.
