Chinese employees at Nexperia were instructed to ignore orders from the Netherlands head office after The Hague seized control of the company. The message, posted on WeChat, told staff they could lawfully decline external instructions.
What happened
On Oct 13 the Dutch government moved to take control of Nexperia, citing national security concerns about management and supply risks. A subsequent notice circulated inside Nexperia’s China organisation said employees should follow domestic legal representatives and may refuse outside directives without disciplinary action.
Immediate facts
The takeover followed claims by Dutch authorities of “serious managerial shortcomings” at the company’s European operations. The Dutch action came after Washington signalled it would consider export controls if the company’s existing leadership remained. Wingtech, Nexperia’s owner, was named on US technology restrictions last year.
How staff responded
Nexperia China’s message named typical corporate channels such as Outlook and Teams as examples of routes for external directives. It said employees could decline any instruction not authorised by the firm’s domestic legal representative without triggering work-discipline penalties.
Text of the notice
The notice said in part: “For any external instructions not authorised by the legal representative of Nexperia’s domestic company – even if transmitted via Outlook, Teams, etc – everyone has the right to refuse to carry them out without this constituting a breach of work discipline or legal provisions.” It also urged staff to cooperate with local management while resisting outside interference.
Context and background
Nexperia began as a spin-out from Philips and later became a large supplier of low-complexity semiconductors used in consumer and industrial products. Wingtech acquired the group in 2018 for $3.63bn. The company operates fabrication and packaging sites across Europe, including a plant in Newport, Wales that the UK ordered sold in 2023 for security reasons.
Operational and industry impact
The split in command raises near-term governance questions. Local Chinese managers were told to continue normal operations, but conflicting instructions across jurisdictions can interrupt logistics, parts movement, and approval flows. Buyers and partners may face added friction when clarity about legal authority is lacking.
Supply and security angle
Authorities justified the intervention as a move to protect semiconductor supply chains. The Dutch government said the situation risked access to components critical to European manufacturing. International pressure, including the threat of export restrictions from the United States, contributed to The Hague’s decision.
Implications for multinational companies
The episode highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of cross-border ownership in strategic sectors. Firms with foreign ownership now face more checks from regulators in Europe and the US. Boards and legal teams must plan for scenarios where national-security actions change governance overnight.