China’s Wingtech Faces Setback as Dutch Court Keeps Nexperia CEO Suspended, Orders Probe
•February 12, 2026
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Why It Matters
The decision deepens uncertainty for Nexperia’s supply chain and highlights growing scrutiny of Chinese‑linked tech assets in Europe, potentially reshaping foreign‑investment policies.
Key Takeaways
- •Dutch court keeps Nexperia CEO suspended
- •Governance probe to last up to six months
- •Wingtech vows legal fight for shareholder rights
- •Nexperia aims to stabilise supply chain
- •Geopolitical tensions may affect EU-China tech investments
Pulse Analysis
The Dutch Enterprise Chamber’s ruling underscores the robustness of European corporate‑governance mechanisms when confronting cross‑border ownership disputes. By maintaining Zhang Xuezheng’s suspension and appointing a temporary director, the court aims to shield Nexperia from internal turmoil and protect shareholder interests. The six‑month probe will scrutinise policy decisions, supply‑chain disruptions, and the de‑facto split with Nexperia China, setting a precedent for how Dutch courts handle complex, geopolitically sensitive cases involving foreign parent companies.
For Nexperia, the immediate priority is preserving a reliable semiconductor supply chain amid global shortages and heightened demand. The company’s reassurance that operations remain "healthy and resilient" seeks to reassure customers and investors, but the governance inquiry could delay strategic initiatives and affect delivery timelines. Wingtech’s aggressive legal stance reflects broader concerns among Chinese investors about asset security in Europe, especially as the semiconductor sector becomes a focal point of economic‑security debates.
The ruling arrives as the Netherlands prepares a new government likely to adopt a tougher line on Chinese investment. Policymakers may use the Nexperia case to refine screening criteria for foreign direct investment in critical technologies, influencing the broader EU approach to tech security. Stakeholders should monitor how the investigation’s findings shape regulatory reforms and bilateral relations, as any adverse outcome could trigger further divestments or restructuring of Chinese‑owned tech assets across Europe.
China’s Wingtech faces setback as Dutch court keeps Nexperia CEO suspended, orders probe
Netherlands court upholds suspension of Nexperia CEO, orders governance probe
A Netherlands court has upheld the suspension of Zhang Xuezheng, former CEO of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, and ordered an investigation into the company’s governance – another setback for Chinese parent company Wingtech.
“The Enterprise Chamber … acknowledges that Nexperia faced complex dilemmas due to geopolitical developments. However, this does not mean that an investigation should be omitted in this case,” the court said in its ruling, published on Wednesday.
The court found there were valid grounds to doubt Nexperia's policy and business conduct and, in a separate statement, said the investigation is expected to last up to six months.
It decided to maintain Zhang’s suspension to allow the company to exercise firm leadership free from internal disputes and shareholder conflict, judging that Nexperia’s immediate priorities would be restoring stability, repairing internal relationships, securing its supply chain and ensuring reliable deliveries to customers.
The court‑appointed temporary director will remain in place, and nearly all shares will continue to be held by a designated administrator.
The Enterprise Chamber – a special Dutch court handling corporate disputes – will soon appoint two investigators to examine Nexperia’s governance from the end of 2023, as well as recent supply‑chain disruptions and the de‑facto split with Nexperia China since last October, according to the ruling.
In a statement, Wingtech expressed regret at the decision and vowed to pursue the restoration of its full shareholder rights “through all available legal means”. It said the court’s decision to maintain the temporary measures would continue to weigh on business, reiterating that it had still not been presented with any evidence justifying the actions.
At the same time, Wingtech said it approved of the court’s decision to broaden the scope of the investigation to include actions taken by Nexperia’s local management in the Netherlands.
Image: The Nexperia logo on the side of a building
For its part, Nexperia welcomed the ruling and said it would cooperate with the investigation. The company said in a statement that its primary goal is to stabilise its supply chains and meet customer demand, stressing that its business remains “healthy and resilient” despite the challenges.
China’s Foreign Ministry has also weighed in. On Thursday, it reiterated that the Dutch government’s “improper administrative intervention” was the main cause of the Nexperia issue, and called on the Netherlands to create conditions for the company to resolve its internal disputes.
Benedetta Girardi, a strategic analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, said the ruling is fundamentally about corporate governance under Dutch law, not geopolitics, though it would inevitably be viewed through an economic‑security lens given the sensitivity of the semiconductor sector.
The court stressed that the Dutch government’s order to take control of Nexperia did not play a role in its decision.
However, Frans‑Paul van der Putten, founder of Dutch consulting firm ChinaGeopolitics, said the continuation of the Nexperia saga would damage the company, the Netherlands and relations between The Hague and Beijing.
The incoming Dutch government, set to be inaugurated on February 23, appears to have a more critical stance towards China, van der Putten said.
“It is important for the new government to consider what lessons it can draw from this situation for its approach to foreign direct investment, the semiconductor supply chain and Europe’s overall geopolitical positioning towards China and the United States in the coming years,” he added.
The incoming Dutch trade minister, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma – who belongs to the same party as Prime Minister‑designate Rob Jetten – was sanctioned by Beijing in 2021 for his criticism of alleged human‑rights abuses in Xinjiang.
At a press conference on Tuesday, China’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment on whether he is still under sanctions.
“We hope the new Dutch government will continue to uphold an objective and rational attitude towards China,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
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