Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Relationship assessment
Economic engagement persists amid disputes over technology exports and human rights
People's Republic of China toward Kingdom of the Netherlands
+10China has pursued bilateral economic and political engagement with the Netherlands, including through the 2014 establishment of an open and pragmatic partnership. Chinese objections to Dutch semiconductor export controls have also become a source of friction.
Kingdom of the Netherlands toward People's Republic of China
+5The Netherlands has maintained bilateral engagement with China while restricting exports of certain advanced semiconductor-manufacturing equipment to China. Dutch government criticism of human rights conditions in China has also contributed to tensions.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship rests on sustained economic engagement and a formal bilateral partnership, but technology-security concerns and human-rights disagreements constrain closer cooperation. These competing features support a mixed overall assessment.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and the Netherlands have maintained substantial economic engagement and a bilateral partnership, while strategic and policy disagreements have become more prominent. Dutch restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductor-manufacturing equipment to China and disputes over human rights complicate cooperation. The relationship combines practical engagement with significant friction.
Areas of tension
- Dutch restrictions on exports of advanced semiconductor-manufacturing equipment to China
- Disagreements over human rights in China
Key developments
China and the Netherlands established an open and pragmatic partnership.
The Netherlands introduced restrictions on exports to China of certain advanced semiconductor-manufacturing equipment.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation arrangements are unclear.
- The future reach of Dutch semiconductor export controls and China's response remain uncertain.