Belgian prosecutors said they have held a 52 year old dual Chinese and Belgian national in pre trial detention since May on suspicion of espionage involving semiconductor technology.
The man, who lives in Belgium, previously held a senior position at Belgan, a Belgian microchip manufacturer specialising in gallium nitride semiconductors. The company was declared bankrupt in July 2024.
Prosecutors said the man was also suspected of serving as a director of a Chinese company producing the same type of semiconductor. The Chinese company was established several months after he joined Belgan and was financed by a Chinese investment fund.
He is accused of illegally transferring specialised intellectual property and trade secrets related to the production of gallium nitride chips to China, prosecutors said. The technology is used in electric vehicles, aerospace and military applications.
The suspect was arrested in May at Zaventem airport while preparing to board a flight to Beijing. Prosecutors said he remains in detention, while a second suspect linked to the investigation remains at large.
The case highlights growing European concerns over the transfer of sensitive semiconductor technology to China, particularly as governments seek to protect strategic industries and advanced technologies.
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