China–Netherlands relations officially began in November 1954.[1] In May 1972, diplomatic mission was increased to
ambassadorial level.[1]
History
China-Dutch relations began prior to the founding of the People's Republic of China in the 17th and 18th century when Dutch traders of the
Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) setup trading post in
Canton and also in the western coast of
Taiwan.[2]
PRC–Netherlands began in 1954.[3] In the 1980s Taiwan ordered two submarines from a Dutch shipyard which were delivered despite tremendous Chinese pressure.[4] China accused the Netherlands of colluding with American President
Ronald Reagan and downgraded relations with the Netherlands and threatened to do the same to the US.[5] In 1984, the Netherlands agreed not to export additional military goods in order to restore relations.[6]
Netherlands export to China includes petrochemicals, machinery, transport equipment, food, high technology and fossil fuels.[7] China's export to the Netherlands includes computer and consumer electronics, toys and clothes.[7][8][9]
In July 2019, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Netherlands, signed a joint letter to the
UNHRC condemning China's mistreatment of the
Uyghurs as well as its mistreatment of other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the
Xinjiang internment camps.[11][12]
In February 2021, the
Dutch House of Representatives voted to recognize the Chinese government's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority as
genocide, becoming the first country in the European Union to do so.[13]
^Author Yong Liu, (2007), The Dutch East India Company's tea trade with China, 1757–1781, Volume 6 of TANAP monographs on the history of the Asian-European interaction, BRILL,
ISBN90-04-15599-6,
ISBN978-90-04-15599-2, 277 pages, 17–89, 91–117
^SAITO, MARI; LEE, YIMOU; PARK, JU-MIN; KELLY, TIM; MACASKILL, ANDREW; WU, SARAH; LAGUE, DAVID.
"Silent partners". Reuters.
Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.