Safeguarding economy a priority, Dutch foreign minister says in China

BEIJING: Safeguarding the Dutch economy and cyberspace is a priority for the Netherlands, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in China on Tuesday as Western governments adopt an increasingly defensive stance towards Beijing.

Hoekstra was the first Dutch minister to visit China since the world’s second-largest economy reopened its borders after three years of COVID-19 travel curbs.

Western governments have accused China of engaging in “economic coercion,” illegitimate technology transfers and data disclosures. Officials have also voiced anxiety over protecting advanced technologies from Chinese entities.