The VVD Group is concerned about the many investments of Chinese technology companies in our country. The party wonders in how many Dutch companies the Chinese have a finger in the pie. Also, the liberals want to know what measures the cabinet is taking to keep an eye on Chinese companies.
This is according to written questions (1) by Pim van Strien, Ruben Brekelmans and Queeny Rajkowski (all VVD) to Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Micky Andriaansens and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra.
This week, RTL News and Follow The Money reported that there are 903 companies (2) in our country that are wholly or partially owned by Chinese tech companies. From financial and business services to transportation and distribution, Chinese companies are represented in almost every major industry.
And that is not without risk. Intelligence and security officials and experts fear that high-quality technological know-how may end up in the hands of the Chinese government or the People's Liberation Army. China is preying on this expertise because it wants to be the world's largest military and economic superpower by 2049. So espionage lurks around the corner. In addition, according to the AIVD and MIVD, China is conducting an offensive cyber program against the Netherlands.
"We have to keep in mind that China sees cooperation as a means, not an end. It is a means to take our technology, our knowledge in the long run so that we are no longer dependent on other countries," Jonathan Holslag, China expert at the Free University in Brussels, told RTL News.
The news reached the VVD, which is concerned about this development. The group submitted a series of written questions to Minister Adriaansens and Minister Hoekstra for clarification. Van Strien, Brekelmans and Rajkowski want to know from the ministers if they knew that so many Dutch companies are owned by the Chinese.
"If not, what is the reason this is not being tracked, and do you share the view that up-to-date insight into the Chinese presence in the Netherlands is important for national security, also given the conclusion by the General Intelligence and Security Service earlier this year that China is currently the biggest threat to economic security in the Netherlands?" they ask the ministers.
The VVD leaves no room for misunderstanding: the party finds it undesirable that several strategic companies in the port of Rotterdam are in Chinese hands, because they are vital to the Dutch economy and society. The group wants to hear from Minister Adriaansens and Hoekstra whether they find this problematic or not.
The VVD's key question is whether the cabinet has sufficient resources to supervise Dutch companies controlled by Chinese tech companies. The party wants to know what possibilities the Security Tests, Investments, Mergers and Acquisitions Act offers to counter unwanted investments and acquisitions. "If not, do you share the view that this is a loophole in the current legislation? If so, how do you intend to close this loophole?"
Finally, the MPs want to know from the ministers what tools they have to ensure that sensitive knowledge and technology does not trickle down to China.
https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/kamervragen/detail?id=2022Z18113&did=2022D38521
https://www.vpngids.nl/nieuws/ruim-900-nederlandse-bedrijven-in-chinese-handen-experts-bezorgd-om-spionage/
