China–Netherlands relations
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations|China–Netherlands|China|Netherlands}}
The People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Netherlands commenced official diplomatic relations in November 1954.{{cite web|url=http://nl.china-embassy.org/eng/zhgx/zzgx/t137589.htm|title=China and the Netherlands|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622070110/http://nl.china-embassy.org/eng/zhgx/zzgx/t137589.htm|url-status=live}} In May 1972, diplomatic mission was increased to ambassadorial level. On 11 May 1981, the diplomatic relations was downgraded to the charge d'affaires level due to the Dutch government ratified the construction of two submarines for Taiwan by the Dutch companies. Until 1 February 1984, China and the Netherlands restored ambassadorial diplomatic relations.
History
File:President Xi Jinping.jpg with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in December 2013]]
China-Dutch relations began prior to the founding of the People's Republic of China in the 17th and 18th century when Dutch traders of the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) setup trading post in Canton and also in the western coast of Taiwan.Author Yong Liu, (2007), The Dutch East India Company's tea trade with China, 1757–1781, Volume 6 of TANAP monographs on the history of the Asian-European interaction, BRILL, {{ISBN|90-04-15599-6}}, {{ISBN|978-90-04-15599-2}}, 277 pages, 17–89, 91–117 Johan Nieuhof's account of the first VOC embassy to Beijing in 1655{{ndash}}1657{{mdash}}and the objections against it raised by members of the Jesuit China Mission{{mdash}}became the influential and much-translated 1665 Embassy from the East-India Company.
= 20th century =
During the Korean War, the Netherlands' Regiment van Heutsz under the United Nations Command fought the People's Republic of China's People's Volunteer Army in multiple battles.{{cite web |date= |title=Dutch Participation in Korean War |url=http://www.korean-war.com/netherlands.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103225156/http://www.korean-war.com/netherlands.html |archive-date=2010-01-03 |access-date=2023-04-08}}
PRC–Netherlands began in 1954 to establish the diplomatic relations of the charge d'affaires level. Until 18 May 1972, China upgraded to the ambassadorial level with the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://www.country-studies.com/china/relations-with-europe.html|title=China Relations with Europe|access-date=18 May 2016|archive-date=30 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730233423/http://www.country-studies.com/china/relations-with-europe.html|url-status=live}} In the 1980s Taiwan ordered two submarines from a Dutch shipyard which were delivered despite tremendous Chinese pressure.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=DUTCH SUB ON WAY TO TAIWAN |url=https://www.joc.com/maritime-news/dutch-sub-way-taiwan_19871028.html |website=joc.com |publisher=JOC |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=3 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103140740/https://www.joc.com/maritime-news/dutch-sub-way-taiwan_19871028.html |url-status=dead }} China accused the Netherlands of colluding with American President Ronald Reagan and downgraded relations to the charge d'affaires level with the Netherlands on 11 May 1981, and threatened to do the same to the US.{{cite news |last1=Sterba |first1=James P. |title=CHINA ATTACKS U.S. ON DUTCH-TAIWAN DEAL |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/19/world/china-attacks-us-on-dutch-taiwan-deal.html |website=The New York Times |date=19 January 1981 |access-date=4 March 2021 |archive-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104125812/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/19/world/china-attacks-us-on-dutch-taiwan-deal.html |url-status=live }} In 1984, the Netherlands agreed not to export additional military goods in order to restore relations to the ambassadorial level.{{cite news |last1=SAITO |first1=MARI |last2=LEE |first2=YIMOU |last3=PARK |first3=JU-MIN |last4=KELLY |first4=TIM |last5=MACASKILL |first5=ANDREW |last6=WU |first6=SARAH |last7=LAGUE |first7=DAVID |title=Silent partners |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-submarines/ |work=Reuters |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220163611/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/taiwan-china-submarines/ |url-status=live }}
= 21st century =
In March 2014, Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping made the first state visit of China to the Netherlands in history.{{cite web|url=http://nos.nl/artikel/626600-historisch-bezoek-xi-aan-nederland.html|title=Historisch bezoek Xi aan Nederland|language=nl|work=NOS|date=22 March 2014|access-date=22 March 2014|archive-date=1 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701190217/http://nos.nl/artikel/626600-historisch-bezoek-xi-aan-nederland.html|url-status=live}}
In July 2019, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Netherlands, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC condemning China's mistreatment of the Uyghurs as well as its mistreatment of other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the Xinjiang internment camps.{{cite news |date=15 July 2019 |title=Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |work=The Diplomat |access-date=17 July 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716160658/https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/which-countries-are-for-or-against-chinas-xinjiang-policies/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=11 July 2019 |title=More than 20 ambassadors condemn China's treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=17 July 2019 |archive-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714102532/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/11/more-than-20-ambassadors-condemn-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-in-xinjiang |url-status=live }}
In February 2021, the Dutch House of Representatives voted to recognize the Chinese government's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as genocide, becoming the first country in the European Union to do so.{{cite web |date=25 February 2021 |title=Dutch parliament: China's treatment of Uighurs is genocide |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-china-uighurs/dutch-parliament-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-is-genocide-idUSKBN2AP2CI |work=Reuters |access-date=26 February 2021 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204154153/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-china-uighurs/dutch-parliament-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-is-genocide-idUSKBN2AP2CI |url-status=live }}
In February 2024, the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service and the General Intelligence and Security Service stated that Chinese state hackers penetrated a Dutch military network the prior year.{{Cite news |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Chinese spies hacked Dutch defence network last year - intelligence agencies |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/china-cyber-spies-hacked-computers-dutch-defence-ministry-report-2024-02-06/ |access-date=February 6, 2024 |work=Reuters}} The same month, Dutch trade minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen justified export controls on ASML tools to China on the grounds that they would be used for "high-value weapons systems and weapons of mass destruction."{{Cite news |last=Sterling |first=Toby |date=February 19, 2024 |title=Dutch government says China seeks military advantage from ASML tools |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/dutch-government-says-china-seeks-military-advantage-asml-tools-2024-02-19/ |access-date=February 19, 2024 |work=Reuters}} In April 2024, the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service stated that Chinese spies were actively targeting the Netherlands' semiconductor, aerospace and maritime industries in order to strengthen China's armed forces.{{Cite news |date=April 18, 2024 |title=Chinese spies target Dutch industries to strengthen military, intelligence agency says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinese-spies-target-dutch-industries-strengthen-military-intelligence-agency-2024-04-18/ |access-date=April 18, 2024 |work=Reuters}}
In June 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defence accused China of creating an "unsafe situation" when its fighter jets encircled Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp in international waters in the East China Sea.{{Cite news |date=June 8, 2024 |title=Chinese jets circle Dutch ship in East China Sea |url=https://www.dw.com/en/chinese-jets-circle-dutch-ship-in-east-china-sea/a-69309736 |access-date=June 9, 2024 |work=Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=China warns against Dutch naval 'intrusion' in East China Sea |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3266181/china-warns-against-dutch-naval-intrusion-disputes-east-china-sea-encounter |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}} In October 2024, the Dutch National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism stated that Chinese state-backed cyberattacks had increasingly moved from cyberespionage to also prepare for sabotage.{{Cite web |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |last2=Kine |first2=Phelim |date=2024-10-29 |title=Xi wants NATO to keep out of Asia. Kim Jong Un isn't helping |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/china-watcher/xi-wants-nato-to-keep-out-of-asia-kim-jong-un-isnt-helping/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Politico |language=en-GB}} In May 2025, Dutch defense minister Ruben Brekelmans stated that Chinese espionage on the Netherlands' semiconductor sector is "intensifying."{{Cite web |last=O'Neill |first=Rory |date=2025-05-31 |title=Dutch defense minister warns of Chinese spying threat |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/ruben-brekelmans-netherlands-china-spying-intelligence/ |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Politico Europe |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Kok |first=Xinghui |date=May 31, 2025 |title=Chinese spying on Dutch industries 'intensifying': Dutch defence minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/chinese-spying-dutch-industries-intensifying-dutch-defence-minister-2025-05-31/ |access-date=June 1, 2025 |work=Reuters}}
Trade
Netherlands export to China includes petrochemicals, machinery, transport equipment, food, high technology and fossil fuels.{{cite web |date=29 April 2010 |title=More goods exported to China, imports from China down |url=http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/internationale-handel/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2010/2010-3101-wm.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205002/http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/internationale-handel/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2010/2010-3101-wm.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=18 May 2016}} China's export to the Netherlands includes computer and consumer electronics, toys and clothes.{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.tinbergen.nl/discussionpapers/08016.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718003312/http://www.tinbergen.nl/discussionpapers/08016.pdf |archive-date=18 July 2011 |access-date=2010-07-02}}{{cite web |date=11 September 2008 |title=Imports from China rising more slowly |url=http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/internationale-handel/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2008/2008-2549-wm.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221833/http://www.cbs.nl/en-GB/menu/themas/internationale-handel/publicaties/artikelen/archief/2008/2008-2549-wm.htm |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=18 May 2016}}
Resident diplomatic missions
See also
- Chinese people in the Netherlands
- Chinese people in Europe
- Dutch people in China
- China–European Union relations
- Marc van der Chijs, Dutch co-founder of popular Chinese video-sharing website Tudou
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180525141851/http://www.hollandinchina.org/ Nederlandse Ambassade in Peking, China] {{in lang|nl}}
- [http://nl.china-embassy.org/eng/ Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Kingdom of the Netherlands] {{in lang|zh}}
{{Foreign relations of China}}
{{Foreign relations of the Netherlands}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|China|Netherlands}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:China-Netherlands relations}}