The Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans has warned that Chinese espionage efforts targeting the Netherlands are intensifying, with a particular focus on the semiconductor industry. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Brekelmans emphasized that China is seeking to acquire intellectual property related to the development and manufacture of semiconductors, which are critical components used in a wide range of technologies from smartphones to military equipment. This escalation in spying activities is seen as a threat to the Netherlands' technologically advanced semiconductor sector. Chinese experts have dismissed these allegations as politically motivated and lacking factual basis. The Semiconductor Industry Association notes that the U.S. leads global semiconductor research and development spending at 17.7% of sales, followed by Korea, Taiwan, Europe, and China, highlighting the competitive and strategic nature of the semiconductor market.