After being turned away in the U.S., the Dutch minister took a detour to China, seeking a lifeline for his own companies.

Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Schermerma embarked on a three-day trade mission to China, bringing with him 17 corporate executives, all aiming to secure survival for their own businesses.

Previously, the Dutch government followed the U.S. lead by imposing strict measures on chip lithography machines and NXP Semiconductors, only to find itself abandoned once the U.S. had finished using it. Now, the U.S. is aggressively escalating pressure under the "MATCH Act," threatening Dutch firms with massive fines and legal accountability.

The Dutch had previously sought favor with the U.S., but were met with cold indifference—literally receiving a door slammed in their face. Now, they can only place hope in China.

In reality, pursuing salvation for their own companies through the U.S. was futile. Whether their livelihoods remain secure depends entirely on the Chinese market.

ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant, derives nearly 30% of its annual profits from China. If the U.S. sanctions are enforced, ASML’s revenue would plummet sharply. The case of NXP Semiconductors serves as a clear example: the Dutch once believed they could rest easy relying on American hegemony, but ended up facing serious complications—and an eye-watering fine of 8 billion RMB.

Having been rebuffed by the U.S., the Dutch government has become more pragmatic this time. This visit to China carries no political posturing—only real, tangible business interests.

On cooperation with various countries, China has made its position clear: “If you want to talk, the door is open; if you want to fight, we’re ready.” If the Netherlands comes with genuine intent, China will not let it leave empty-handed. But if the Dutch play double games—saying one thing while doing another—China won’t hesitate to cut ties.

Ultimately, the Dutch minister’s swift trip to China after failing in the U.S. is a realistic choice.

Once again, the Netherlands demonstrates through experience that blindly relying on hegemony leads nowhere—only openness and cooperation offer a better path forward.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870050548214794/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.