According to a statement from chip manufacturer Nexperia, the management of Nexperia’s China unit told employees that they could ignore instructions from overseas. Previously, the Dutch government stepped in to take over the chip manufacturer headqu...
According to a statement from chip manufacturer Nexperia, the management of Nexperia’s China unit told employees that they could ignore instructions from overseas. Previously, the Dutch government stepped in to take over the chip manufacturer headquartered in the Netherlands.
Nexperia is an important supplier of basic automotive chips. As the semiconductor industry increasingly becomes a source of global geopolitical tensions, Nexperia finds itself in the middle of a tug-of-war between China and the Netherlands.
Dutch officials in late September cited a Cold War-era law to effectively take control of the Chinese-owned but Netherlands-based company, citing national security concerns.
Nexperia subsequently stated that since October 4, Beijing authorities have banned it from exporting certain products from China.
Nexperia China’s department issued a statement on the social platform WeChat last weekend, saying that Chinese employees “should continue to follow the instructions of Nexperia China.”
The statement also pointed out: "For any external instructions that are not authorized by the legal representative of Nexperia's local company, even if they are conveyed through Outlook, Teams, etc., employees have the right to refuse to execute them, which does not constitute a violation of work disciplines or legal regulations."
The statement stated that the management is "fully committed to ensuring the normal operation of the company and will not allow external forces to affect operations or harm the interests of employees."
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) warned that the dispute between China and the Netherlands over the chip manufacturer could lead to a "large-scale" shutdown of European automobile production lines. The association expressed concern about the risk of a global shortage of automotive chips after Beijing banned Nexperia from exporting products from China.
Further reading: Refuting rumors about salary suspension and system suspension! Nexperia says business in China is operating as usual and salaries are being paid
