Belgian authorities arrested a Chinese citizen who also holds Belgian nationality on May 10 as he prepared to board a flight from Brussels to Beijing. Officials said the arrest took place earlier this year and is connected to an ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors said the probe could point to the illegal export of specialized know-how and trade secrets related to manufacturing gallium nitride chips. The individual worked in a senior research role at the Belgian firm and, according to investigators, there are signs he also served as a director at a Chinese company doing similar work. A Chinese investment fund supported that firm, which was established only a few months after he began working for the Belgian employer.
The matter is part of the insolvency of Belgan BV - previously called AMI Semiconductor and ON Semiconductor - which entered bankruptcy in July 2024.
When complex stories about technology and trade surface, steady saving pays off, so download the free Always Be Buying E-Book
Belgium has seen a run of suspected spying cases, including the July arrest of a NATO intern at the alliance's Brussels headquarters. Keep an eye on this one if you follow companies working with gallium nitride or rely on cross-border semiconductor R&D, since tighter scrutiny can ripple through hiring, partnerships, and supply chains.
