Prosecutors in Belgium have confirmed that a 52-year-old man holding dual Chinese and Belgian nationality has been held in pre-trial detention since May 2025 on suspicion of espionage, in a case centred on the theft of semiconductor technology — specifically gallium nitride (GaN) chip manufacturing secrets. The arrest, which took place at Zaventem airport as the accused allegedly attempted to board a flight to Beijing, marks one of the most significant technology-espionage cases to emerge from Europe in recent years.

Who Is the Accused and What Did He Allegedly Do

According to Belgian prosecutors, the man formerly held a senior position at Belgan, a Belgian microchip manufacturer specialising in gallium nitride semiconductors — a material critical to electric vehicles, aerospace systems, and military-grade electronics. Belgan was declared bankrupt in July 2024, raising questions about the timeline of the alleged misconduct.

Prosecutors allege that while employed at Belgan, the accused simultaneously served as a director of a Chinese company established just months after he joined the Belgian firm. That Chinese entity was reportedly financed by a Chinese investment fund. He is suspected of using that dual role to illegally transfer specialised intellectual property and trade secrets relating to GaN chip production to parties abroad.

Why Gallium Nitride Chips Matter

Gallium nitride is a compound semiconductor that outperforms conventional silicon in high-power, high-frequency applications. Its use spans electric vehicle power systems, aerospace radar, and military communications — making it a strategically sensitive technology that Western governments have increasingly sought to protect from foreign acquisition. This case underscores the vulnerability of smaller, specialised chip firms — often with fewer security protocols than large foundries — to targeted industrial espionage.

Status of the Investigation

Belgian prosecutors confirmed that the accused remains in detention. Notably, a second suspect in the same investigation is reportedly still at large, suggesting the probe extends beyond a single individual. No further details about the second suspect's identity or nationality have been disclosed by authorities.

Broader Context: EU-China Tech Tensions

This arrest comes amid a sharp deterioration in technology and trade relations between Brussels and Beijing. By late July 2025, China had reportedly sanctioned two Polish high-technology institutions — Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST), known for its expertise in satellite and space research, and Vigo Photonics, a manufacturer of infrared components used in defence, energy, medical, and industrial sectors. Beijing's move was framed as retaliation for the European Union's 21st sanctions package against Russia, which included restrictions on several Chinese and Hong Kong-based companies accused of supplying technologies and components supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine.

The semiconductor espionage case in Belgium thus sits within a wider pattern: as the EU tightens controls on dual-use technology exports and sanctions enforcement, China appears to be responding on multiple fronts — both through state-level countermeasures and, allegedly, through covert acquisition of restricted intellectual property. How Brussels navigates these pressures will have direct implications for European chip sovereignty and transatlantic technology security.