BEIJING, Dec 11 (Reuters) - China has been actively supporting consultations between Wingtech and Nexperia to resolve internal disputes, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday. Netherlands-based
China Pushes Netherlands for Nexperia Talks Amid Ongoing Dispute
By Yukun Zhang, Eduardo Baptista and Joe Cash
BEIJING, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Beijing called on Thursday for the Dutch government to push Nexperia to send a delegation to China, as a standoff between the Netherlands-based chipmaker and its Chinese parent again threatens to disrupt the global automotive supply chain.
Nexperia has been in dispute with Wingtech since the Dutch government took control of the firm in September.
Beijing responded by halting exports of Nexperia's finished products, triggering chip shortages for global automakers.
Both governments relaxed their measures last month, but court fights and an internal battle continue over control of Nexperia, with China and Wingtech both warning that disruptions could return if a long-term resolution is not found soon.
China has asked the Dutch government to implement the consensus they reached on encouraging negotiations between Nexperia and Wingtech by urging the chipmaker to send representatives to China as soon as possible for talks, said He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Chinese commerce ministry.
He told a regular press briefing that the Dutch government needed to revoke its seizure and "facilitate the withdrawal of lawsuits" filed by European managers at Nexperia in an Amsterdam-based court.
These led to the removal of the company's then-CEO Zhang Xuezheng, also the founder of Wingtech, as well as the transfer of the Chinese parent's shares to the control of a Dutch lawyer.
He's comments mark the first time the commerce ministry has publicly stated this demand, pointing to growing Chinese impatience in Beijing at Wingtech's control over Nexperia not yet having been restored.
The Dutch ministry of economic affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment on He's remarks.
Wingtech said on Wednesday it had invited the court-appointed custodians of Nexperia to China for talks.
Nexperia said it was aware of the invitation but had seen "no indications of any willingness to engage in meaningful discussions on the restoration of the supply chain".
(Reporting by Yukun Zhang, Eduardo Baptista, Jing Xu and Joe Cash. Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Mark Potter and Alexander Smith)
