(The Epoch Times)—Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans warned Saturday that Chinese cyber espionage targeting the Netherlands is intensifying, with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) particularly focused on stealing advanced semiconductor technology.
“The semiconductor industry, which we are technologically leading—or technology advanced, of course—to get that intellectual property, that’s interesting to China,” Brekelmans told Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on May 30.
Chinese spies have set their sights on Dutch semiconductor, aerospace, and maritime industries in an effort to advance China’s military power, according to the Dutch military intelligence agency’s latest annual report, released on April 22. It highlights a “whole-of-society” approach by the CCP that blurs the lines between legitimate academic exchange and covert technology transfer.
“In the Netherlands, we have seen Chinese activities in the area of unwanted knowledge transfer of high-quality Dutch technology such as semiconductors,” the report states. These transfers occur through both legal channels—like investments and research partnerships—and illegal ones, including cyber espionage and export control evasion.
Brekelmans said that the threat has not abated.
“It’s continuing. In our newest intelligence reports, our intelligence agency said that the biggest cyber threat is coming from China, and that we do see most cyber activity when it comes to us being as from China. That was the case last year, but that’s still the case. So we only see this intensifying.”
The Dutch intelligence report also noted that China’s espionage extends into critical infrastructure, citing successful cyberattacks against defense networks and the use of malware targeting network devices.
One campaign cited in the report saw Chinese state-sponsored actor “Salt Typhoon” access U.S. telecom providers for over a year, intercepting communications from officials and potentially penetrating law enforcement networks. Dutch intelligence warned that European telecoms are likely similarly targeted. Brekelmans said the Dutch government has begun introducing safeguards, but acknowledged that further steps are needed.
The Dutch warning adds to growing global concern over Chinese influence and espionage operations.
A February report from cybersecurity firm Recorded Future indicates that Chinese hackers linked to Salt Typhoon are still infiltrating telecom networks in the United States.
This week, the Nebraska Legislature passed a sweeping bill to expose and deter covert CCP influence, establishing new registration requirements for foreign agents and cracking down on CCP-linked entities operating in the United States that seek to control overseas Chinese communities, manipulate local politics, and suppress dissent.
CIA Deputy Director Michael Ellis recently warned that China poses an “existential threat” to the United States, emphasizing that the agency’s foremost mission is to surpass the CCP in a critical technological race involving semiconductors, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.
Ellis’s concerns are echoed in the intelligence community’s latest threat assessment, which identifies China as “the most active and persistent cyber threat” to the United States—particularly across government systems, the private sector, and critical infrastructure.
The assessment cautions that in the event of a potential military confrontation with the United States—particularly over Taiwan—China could launch cyberattacks on U.S. military and civilian networks aimed at disrupting command operations, sowing public confusion, and delaying the deployment of American forces.
Speaking at the same security summit in Singapore as the Dutch defense minister, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of a looming military threat from China and pledged continued American support for Indo-Pacific allies working to preserve regional stability.
Hegseth said China is actively preparing to use force to alter “the balance of power” in the region. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it: the threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,” he said.
While acknowledging uncertainty over the CCP’s intentions regarding Taiwan and neighboring countries, Hegseth said that “the U.S. and its allies must nonetheless be ready with urgency and vigilance.”
He said Beijing’s attempt to invade Taiwan could lead to “devastating consequences” for the region and the world, while calling on Indo-Pacific nations to raise defense spending, pointing to NATO’s 5 percent of GDP benchmark as a model.
Aldgra Fredly and Reuters contributed to this report.
Why One Survival Food Company Shines Above the Rest
Let’s be real. “Prepper Food” or “Survival Food” is generally awful. The vast majority of companies that push their cans, bags, or buckets desperately hope that their customers never try them and stick them in the closet or pantry instead. Why? Because if the first time they try them is after the crap hits the fan, they’ll be too shaken to call and complain about the quality.
It’s true. Most long-term storage food is made with the cheapest possible ingredients with limited taste and even less nutritional value. This is why they tout calories so much. Sure, they provide calories but does anyone really want to go into the apocalypse with food their family can’t stand?
This is what prompted the Llewellyns to launch Heaven’s Harvest. They bought survival food from multiple companies and determined they couldn’t imagine being stuck in an extended emergency with such low-quality food. They quickly discovered that freeze drying food for long-term storage doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor, consistency, or nutrition.
Their ingredients are all-American. In fact, they’re locally sourced and all-natural! This allows their products to be the highest quality on the market, so good that their customers often break open a bag in a pinch to eat because they want to, not just because they have to due to an emergency.
At Heaven’s Harvest, their only focus is amazing food. They don’t sell bugout bags, solar chargers, or multitools. They have one mission – feeding Americans in times of crisis.
What they DO offer is the ability for people to thrive in times of greatest need. On top of long-term storage food, they offer seeds to help Americans for the truly long-term. They want them to grow their own food if possible which is why they offer only Heirloom, Non-GMO, Non-Hybrid, Open-Pollinated seeds so their customers can build permanent food security on their own property.
