China 'biggest threat to economic security': Dutch intel agency

The Dutch agency also called China "the biggest threat to the Netherlands' economic security," ANI reported, quoting Anadolu Agency.

Speaking at the press conference on the report on Monday, the director-general of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), Erik Akerboom, said that China is the biggest economic threat to the Netherlands.

Akerboom added that China is targeting new technologies in the Netherlands and the nation is constantly trying to steal these technologies.

The officials said in the AIVD 2022 report that the threats to the country have been raised due to the war in Ukraine, spying activity and cyberattacks.

Earlier, the Netherlands government said that they have imposed restrictions on the export of chip manufacturing equipment and raw materials used in chip making to China, according to reports.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Dutch intelligence claim, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called the Netherlands "irresponsible for relevant Dutch authorities to frame such mutually beneficial cooperation as an issue about security."

Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson Wang Webin on Tuesday said, "This could sour the atmosphere for bilateral cooperation and does not serve the interest of the Netherlands."

"We hope the Netherlands will abandon the Cold War mentality, stop creating hypothetical pretexts to smear Chinese companies, academic institutions and their personnel, and be open-minded, rational and objective about having normal economic and academic cooperation with China," the Chinese spokesperson added.