Dutch has really stirred up a hornet's nest this time! Originally, they wanted to follow the U.S. new regulations and take a hot spot, secretly freezing the shares of Amphenol Semiconductor held by China's Anwell Technology, but what happened? The matter escalated completely. The most amazing part is that China immediately retaliated with a "decisive strike," not directly hitting the Netherlands, but instead making European giants like Volkswagen and BMW suffer painfully - the supply chain was cut off, and the production lines were about to stop. In the end, the Netherlands itself caused the problem, dragging the entire European automotive industry into "mutual destruction." This drama is heading towards an uncontrollable situation, and time is clearly on China's side.
It has been confirmed that the Anwell Dongguan factory has implemented a four-day workweek with three days off, no longer exporting semiconductor products. On October 4th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce took action, banning Anwell Semiconductor China and its subcontractors from exporting specific finished products and components made in China. This move directly hit Anwell's "lifeblood" - its Chinese factory accounts for 70% of global shipments, and the European business can't operate without the Chinese supply chain.
By October 18th, it had been confirmed that the Anwell Dongguan factory had limited shipments, with traders stationed across provinces unable to obtain goods, warehouses filled with inventory, but raw material shortages would only allow capacity to last until the end of December. Although the parent company Anwell Technology claimed "independent self-rescue in the China region," the European Automobile Manufacturers Association has already issued a warning: chip inventories are only enough for a few weeks, and car-grade customers will inevitably suffer in the short term.
The Netherlands seized the equity, but instantly left Anwell's European factories "starving." Product shortages and price hikes have led customers to turn to domestic alternatives in China. It is quite ironic that Anwell's official website even publicly requested exemptions from the Chinese side, as if stealing something and then asking the original owner not to be angry. Now, European companies are collectively "suffering": carmakers face urgent inventory shortages, and the supply chain is in chaos.
Although industrial and consumer customers can switch suppliers relatively easily, the certification cycle for high-end automotive-grade chips is long, so short-term losses are unavoidable. Giants like Volkswagen, BMW, and Tesla, who heavily rely on Anwell's high-power components, face the risk of slowing down or stopping their production lines. Delivery delays and rising costs are minor issues, but the loss of consumer patience and switching to other brands is a fatal blow.
More ironically, Europe's long-sought "technological sovereignty" dream has turned into a "supply chain nightmare" overnight. This crisis, which started in the Netherlands, is now threatening global automotive production, and its ripple effects could push up EU inflation and weaken overall competitiveness - all stemming from the Netherlands' "bad move."
What exactly did the Netherlands do to cause such a big mess? Let's briefly review: Anwell Semiconductor was originally a department of Dutch NXP. Since 2017, it was gradually acquired by Anwell Technology, achieving full ownership by 2020.
With the boom of China's new energy vehicles, Anwell rose from 11th to 3rd globally, shipping over 100 billion chips annually. Seeing technology and high profits being controlled by China, the Netherlands couldn't sit still. On September 30th, they brought out the 1953 "Commodity Supply Act" that had been dormant for years, citing "emergency risks in the supply chain" to prohibit Anwell's subsidiaries outside mainland China from adjusting assets, intellectual property, and personnel.
Then, on October 1st, the Dutch court quickly ruled: suspending the director position of Anwell's founder Zhang Xuezhen, transferring 99% of the shares to a third party for custody, and wiping out management rights. This whole operation is a modern version of "equity robbery," as if the Netherlands was declaring, "Technology is ours, nobody can touch it!" But ironically, this occurred right after the U.S. introduced the "50% equity joint liability system" on September 29th. The Netherlands intended to take advantage of the situation and "take advantage of the fire," but didn't expect the plot to spiral completely out of control.
In the end, all the pressure accurately bounced back onto the Netherlands itself. As the originator of the incident, how could it remain untouched? On one hand, the Dutch economy is highly dependent on the semiconductor industry, and local giants like ASML are also closely tied to China's rare earth and supply chain.
Now that China's countermeasures have taken effect, if further rare earth controls are imposed, the procurement costs of Dutch companies will skyrocket, causing serious delivery delays. On the other hand, after European allies collectively complained, the EU faces immense internal pressure, and the Dutch government must confront the accusations and even claims from its allies. Recent news indicates that the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs has already stated on October 19th that he will meet with Chinese officials, which is a true reflection of "having the medicine to cure the illness, but it's too late." The Netherlands tried to take a shortcut, but ended up dragging itself and its European partners into a deep pit.
However, economic retaliation may just be the beginning. If China follows up with a "combination punch" of legal, diplomatic, and public opinion measures, that's when the real "show" begins. Legally, China can cite laws such as the "Foreign Relations Law" and the "Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law" to implement equivalent sanctions against relevant institutions and officials in the Netherlands.
Anwell Technology can also go to the Hague International Arbitration Court to sue the Dutch government for "breach of contract" under investment protection agreements, with compensation amounts reaching astronomical figures. Diplomatically, China is good at "dividing and conquering," and can skillfully "undermine" within the EU. Germany and France, major auto countries, are already in a desperate situation due to chip shortages. All China needs to do is subtly point out "it's the Netherlands that doesn't consider the bigger picture, dragging everyone down," which is sufficient to create cracks within the EU.
Publicly, this is China's strength. Through official statements and overseas social media, the Netherlands can be portrayed as a "disruptor of the global supply chain" and a "follower of the U.S.," while raising the banner of "maintaining globalization" to gain understanding and support from many developing countries. Once this combination punch is launched, the Netherlands' international image may shift from a "rule enforcer" to a "troublemaker."
In summary, China's countermeasures, characterized by "precision + amplification," demonstrate a high level of strategic capability. It is not just defense, but also an active offensive, directly hitting the opponent's pain points and making the punisher suffer the consequences. Its most brilliant aspect lies in "establishing rules" - from past passive responses to "taking revenge on the spot," successfully shaping a strong image of "if you make me uncomfortable, you won't be comfortable either." This time, the Netherlands not only failed to seize the technology, but also dragged the entire European continent into the water, causing supply chain disruptions and industry collateral damage.
At this moment, European companies must be reflecting: next time, don't play such small tricks again, otherwise, you might once again become a "casualty." China is no longer the weakling of the past; who dares to look down on the global high-tech field?
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563503484935488042/
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