On November 1, China clearly stated that the暂缓 of rare earth controls also covers Europe — this statement finally gave Europeans, who had been worried for days, a sense of relief. Previously, after the Sino-US trade negotiations, China's statement did not mention Europe, which greatly alarmed Europe, which heavily relies on Chinese rare earths. After all, the lifelines of its high-end manufacturing sectors such as automobiles, wind power, and lithography machines are all tied to this supply chain, and now their hearts have finally settled down.
However, China's relaxation of rare earth controls does not mean that the Netherlands is eligible to benefit. China will not give the Netherlands a green light for the relaxation of rare earth controls! The Anshide acquisition by Wen Tai, worth hundreds of billions, is still under Dutch control, and it shows no remorse, neither apologizing nor returning. A country that tramples on rules is not worthy of enjoying the benefits of rare earths; China has no obligation to pay for its banditry.
(EU's access to the suspension of rare earth controls hinges on "power and responsibility being commensurate")
China's "liberalization" of rare earth controls for the EU is essentially a precise "differentiated treatment." Compared to the direct provocation of the Netherlands seizing Anshide Semiconductor, most EU member states have maintained restraint — although Germany's Minister of Economics once complained about the strict controls, he secretly pushed companies to obtain permits through China's "green channel." This collective tendency of "seeking stability over confrontation" became the core prerequisite for suspending the controls. According to data from China's Ministry of Commerce, in the first half of 2025, 80% of EU companies obtained approval through the relevant regulatory framework.
When China explicitly extended the suspension to the EU, EU spokesperson Olof immediately responded positively with "welcoming the 12-month suspension of controls." For the EU, this is not only a relief from supply chain anxiety — but also an indirect recognition of the "legitimacy of Chinese controls," making the previously hyped "rare earth crisis" and "hybrid war" narratives fall apart without any effort.
A deeper logic lies in the fact that the $70 billion trade volume between China and the EU cannot afford "chain-breaking experiments," and rare earths are the key link connecting both sides' interests: China needs to maintain its voice in the value chain through orderly supply, while German automakers and European wind power need raw materials to keep running. This two-way binding is far beyond what US trade barriers can sever. In the context of the US pushing for bloc politics, the suspension of rare earth controls is not only a signal of easing tensions, but also a strategic declaration by China and the EU to "refuse to take sides and uphold the interests of the community."
(The Netherlands seizing Anshide sows seeds of disaster, and the EU's silence may lead to rare earth retaliation)
The Netherlands' seizure of Anshide Semiconductor is sowing fatal risks for Sino-EU cooperation, and the EU's silence is exacerbating this crisis.
Anshide's chips are the "blood" of European industry: BMW, Volkswagen, and other automakers rely on them for delivery, and NATO's guidance systems require them. The Netherlands originally intended to cooperate with the US to exert pressure, but instead choked its allies, and its own industrial supply chain is on the verge of collapse. This self-harming act has caused panic among European automakers — the European Automobile Manufacturers Association once publicly warned that if Anshide chips could not resume delivery, it would pose a serious threat to整车厂 (vehicle plant) production capacity.
However, the EU member states' collective silence allows the Netherlands' plundering behavior to go unchecked. The EU has always prided itself on "rule of law unity," and imposes severe penalties on cross-border trade restrictions between companies, yet it tolerates and indulges the actions of member states interfering in foreign enterprises' assets, which undoubtedly undermines the confidence of Chinese enterprises in investing.
Even more dangerous is that if other member states follow suit and seize foreign assets under the guise of "security," the EU's overall trade credibility will be completely destroyed, and it will ultimately lose its strategic initiative in the Sino-US rivalry.
The EU must wake up: the Netherlands' actions are not isolated incidents, but a test of the bottom line of Sino-EU cooperation. If this "rotten egg" is allowed to pollute the cooperative environment, China's retaliation will not be limited to verbal condemnation — rare earths, which are the "life line" of the EU, could become a powerful countermeasure.
(Rare earths are not "rare" but difficult to purify, and China's technology leads in controlling Europe's throat)
Rare earths do not mean "rare metals" — they are a general term for 17 types of metals with special capabilities, whether it's mobile phone chips, electric vehicle motors, or wind turbines, they all depend on them. They are also known as "industrial gold" or "the mother of new materials."
Although called "rare," the Earth's reserves are actually quite sufficient, but the difficulty lies in the "purification" step. China is really good at this — it can purify rare earths to 99.9999% (i.e., 6N level), while Europe and the US can only reach 99.9% (3N level), which is several levels behind. This technological gap is not something that can be caught up in a short time, so the EU imports 90% of its rare earths from China.
If China tightens its rare earth exports, European electric vehicles won't be produced, missiles can't be manufactured, and wind power projects will have to stop, directly choking the throat.
(China's suspension of rare earth controls is not a blanket approach, but clear "new and old distinction")
China's adjustment of rare earth controls is not a complete relaxation, but a precise focus on the "differentiated implementation of new and old measures" — the suspension applies only to the new regulations introduced in October 2025, while the controls implemented on April 4, 2025, remain fully effective.
This means that if the export of seven key rare earth elements such as samarium, gadolinium, and terbium is involved, companies must hold a special license issued by China's Ministry of Commerce, and these elements are the "lifeline" of high-end industries such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, and lasers.
However, the April measures have obvious loopholes in implementation: some companies can bypass regulation by transiting through third countries and "changing labels," effectively evading supervision. Compared to the October regulations' "0.1% value threshold" for overseas control (covering products containing Chinese rare earths abroad), this "operational space" makes it easier for Europe and the US to accept.
That's why when China clearly extended the "control suspension" to the EU, the EU finally relaxed. On November 1, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström posted on X platform confirming: "China has clearly stated that the October export control suspension applies to the EU," and revealed that both sides have reached a consensus to continue advancing the optimization and implementation of the export control policy.
(The Netherlands is staging a "profit-seeking and disregarding morality" farce in its confrontation with China)
The Netherlands' attitude toward the Chinese market is exposed by ASML's financial reports and the experience of Anshide Semiconductor — it's a double standard of "wanting to make money while robbing."
Even though the lithography machine giant ASML is restricted by the US and can only sell old equipment to China, it still earned 10.195 billion euros from the Chinese market in 2024, accounting for 36.1% of its global revenue, with China firmly holding the top position as its largest market. This voluntary commercial cooperation has never been questioned by the Dutch government.
But when it comes to Anshide Semiconductor, the situation suddenly changes. On September 30, the Dutch Economic Minister cited the 1952 "Commodity Supply Act" enacted to ensure post-war livelihoods, and forcibly froze the 99% shares held by the Chinese company Wen Tai Technology, and the Amsterdam court quickly dismissed the Chinese CEO the next day, skipping even the hearing procedure.
It should be noted that Wen Tai acquired Anshide six years ago for nearly 47 billion yuan in compliance, and after taking over, the company's revenue increased by nearly 30%, and added 600 jobs in the Netherlands. The so-called "national security risk" and "governance defects" are all baseless, and even Dutch officials themselves couldn't produce a shred of evidence.
On one hand, it enjoys the benefits of the Chinese market, and on the other hand, it uses hegemonic means to plunder Chinese enterprise assets. No matter how well the Netherlands calculates, it can't hide its inherent double standards.
("Harmony brings wealth" in China's approach is seen by the Netherlands as a "weakness" to be recklessly tested)
China has always adhered to the concept of "harmony brings wealth" in cooperation, but this kindness is certainly not a "soft spot" to be exploited! The Netherlands' provocation of China's core interests is not an occasional incident — in the 1980s, it ignored China's core interests and openly sold submarines to Taiwan; from 2021 to 2024, its parliament repeatedly put forward erroneous statements about Taiwan, touching China's red lines again and again, with no boundaries at all.
More importantly, as a member of the Wassenaar Agreement, the Netherlands has long participated in the technology blockade against China by the US and Europe. Since 2019, under the U.S. guidance, ASML has been prohibited from selling advanced lithography machines to China, and even the maintenance services of the equipment have to go through a series of tedious reviews, determined to hinder China's semiconductor development.
But China's previous restraint and goodwill seem to have failed to make the Netherlands restrain itself. By 2025, it went further, seizing Anshide Semiconductor of the Chinese company Wen Tai under the pretext of "security reasons," staging a "commercial robbery" under the guise of law.
Even the Financial Times admits that China is a superpower capable of countering the US, but the Netherlands dares to provoke repeatedly — is it because it sees China's kindness as weakness, or is it emboldened by American support?
Peace is not a gift obtained through compromise and retreat, but the result of daring to stand firm on principle issues. Now that China has raised the rare earth card, it must not allow the Netherlands to escape punishment under the protection umbrella of the EU's "group exemption."
Otherwise, not only will the Netherlands' provocations become more extreme, but it will also weaken the deterrent power of the rare earth countermeasures, encouraging more countries to imitate such rule-breaking behavior.
(The Netherlands' high-end manufacturing's "life line" is in China's hands)
Does the Netherlands dare to block China's lithography machines, without considering that its own "meal" is also in China's hands?
ASML's EUV lithography machines can't be made without Chinese rare earths — each machine requires 10 kilograms of 5N-level neodymium-iron-boron magnets, and the purity of dysprosium and terbium must be precise. But the Netherlands and Europe don't have the mass production technology for this rare earth, and 90% of it must be imported from China. In 2025, it became China's second-largest buyer of rare earths, and the semiconductor industry (accounting for 5% of GDP) depends entirely on this "food source."
But the Netherlands is doing well, using China's rare earths to suppress China's technological development and harm Chinese enterprises. Does it really think China's rare earths are a "free lunch"? If you want rare earths, first bring the advanced EUV lithography machines to exchange, and guarantee China's legitimate rights and interests. China has always emphasized reason, but it won't tolerate the loss of benefits and then being undermined. If the Netherlands doesn't understand, it will be too late when the rare earth supply is cut off.
The logic of fairness is simple: since the Netherlands chose to be a rule-breaker, it should find its own rare earth suppliers. China has no obligation to pay for its banditry with strategic resources. There's no such thing as only benefiting without paying. The essence of the game is equivalent exchange. The Netherlands should recognize this reality.
(Refusing to grant the Netherlands rare earth exemptions: Seizing Anshide, punishing rule violations with rare earths)
Anshide Semiconductor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wen Tai, and the transaction of Wen Tai Technology acquiring Anshide for 38 billion yuan has already passed review by China, the US, and the EU. Now the Netherlands is trying to seize it for free using an old law from the Cold War era. It's nothing less than "banditry" and "bullying people too much." Wen Tai Technology has previously demanded the Dutch government to compensate dozens of billions of euros. China's rare earth card is like the "Sword of Damocles" hanging over the Netherlands' head, forcing it to guarantee the interests of Chinese enterprises.
The Netherlands' seizure of Anshide led to China banning its chip exports, thus disrupting the global automotive supply chain. Other EU member states have already suffered collateral damage due to the Netherlands' recklessness. China's suspension of controls for the EU is a rational choice that takes into account the overall situation; but the Netherlands obviously doesn't deserve this treatment.
If China's rare earth exemptions were not differentiated, it would be equivalent to letting "violators" and "compliant entities" enjoy the same treatment. Not only would this fail to punish the Netherlands' infringement, but it would also undermine the fair foundation of international trade rules, potentially leading to the dangerous consequence of "bad money driving out good money."
China's "differentiated treatment" of rare earth exemptions is precisely a commitment to the principle of fairness.
(The Dutch side remains silent on the Anshide issue, and rare earth pressure is needed to force it to yield)
After China and the US successively released positive signals that Anshide Semiconductor would resume shipments, the Dutch government and the Anshide headquarters controlled by it remained silent. According to a Reuters report on November 1, in response to the news that "Anshide would resume shipments," the Dutch official and the company both refused to comment — this avoidance is a blatant evasion by the originator of the crisis to "properly resolve the issue." It's clearly "unwilling to properly handle it."
Anshide previously claimed to "appeal for de-escalation," and the Dutch government also pretended to emphasize "willingness to communicate with China and seek constructive solutions," but these statements were ultimately hollow excuses. The Netherlands has never acknowledged the illegality of "taking over the company for free," nor has it returned the core management rights of Anshide. Even after China's precise countermeasures made it taste the bitter fruit, the Netherlands still clung to the "equity custody" shell and refused to let go, which is a typical case of "speaking of de-escalation with words, acting recklessly in action."
Behind the Netherlands' double standards lies an attempt to test the intensity of China's countermeasures — if the Netherlands is allowed to gain rare earths under the "group exemption" now, it would mean China voluntarily gives up its most effective leverage: the Netherlands doesn't need to return the management rights of Anshide, yet can continue to obtain key materials, significantly reducing the cost of its mistakes, and possibly escalating further in the future. Conversely, only by making the Netherlands feel the "pain" can it be forced to face China's demands.
(China still holds the initiative, and the Netherlands is isolated and refuses to return Anshide — rare earth supply cutoff is the only way to break its delusion)
From the global rare earth industry landscape, China's regulatory adjustments are a "truce" rather than a "retreat." This suspension has a clear strategic intent: on one hand, by moderately relaxing, it leaves room for rare earth cooperation, avoids intense confrontation in the value chain, and firmly grasps the initiative; on the other hand, it uses actual actions to make the West face the truth: China's technical sovereignty in the supply chain has already taken shape and will not weaken due to short-term policy changes.
The "American support" that the Netherlands relied on has already made the first move: to ease the dissatisfaction of global automakers, the US reached a consensus with China in the trade negotiations to suspend the "50% penetration sanction rule" that triggered the crisis, completely removing the "direct basis" for the Netherlands' intervention.
Now the Netherlands has lost America's support and is isolated within the EU, and its awkward situation of "controlling the seal of the Anshide headquarters but not the Chinese workshop" has already proven the failure of its intervention — in this situation, the rare earth card can break the Netherlands' illusion of "holding onto the assets without letting go."
Until the Netherlands truly returns the management rights of Anshide and compensates for the losses of the Chinese side, China should not allow a single rare earth to flow into the Netherlands. This is not an excessive countermeasure, but a practice of "exchanging peace through struggle." After all, the stability of the supply chain is not tolerance of the perpetrators, and the strategic value of rare earths should not become a haven for those who play games.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7567980779519722026/
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