{"text":[[{"start":7.318,"text":"Belgian police have arrested a dual-national technology researcher on suspicion of stealing secrets from a semiconductor company to hand to a rival business in China."}],[{"start":17.576,"text":"The arrest was part of an investigation into “espionage, participation in a criminal organisation, misuse of company assets and the unlawful disclosure of company secrets”, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office announced on Monday."}],[{"start":31.28,"text":"The case is likely to add to already growing tensions between the EU and China over critical technologies."}],[{"start":38.815,"text":"The Belgian prosecutors said the 52-year-old Belgian-Chinese national was a senior researcher at Belgan, a maker of advanced gallium nitride semiconductors that was declared bankrupt in July 2024 with the loss of more than 400 jobs."}],[{"start":54.64,"text":"The prosecutor’s office said there were “indications” the arrested man, identified by his lawyer to the FT only as HL, had been simultaneously acting as a director of a Chinese company involved in similar manufacturing activity as Belgan. The Chinese company had been established a few months after he joined Belgan and was financed by a Chinese investment fund, the prosecutors said."}],[{"start":77.036,"text":"“The investigation may point to the unlawful transfer abroad of specialised intellectual property and trade secrets relating to the production of gallium nitride chips — technology which has applications in sectors including electric vehicles, aerospace and the military,” it said."}],[{"start":93.57,"text":"The man was arrested on May 10 at Brussels airport as he was about to board a flight to Beijing and has since been in custody awaiting trial."}],[{"start":101.68,"text":"Police had carried out searches and seized data-storage devices and electronic communications, and a second suspect was being hunted in connection with the case, the prosecutor’s office said without giving details."}],[{"start":113.84,"text":"Dimitri de Beco, a lawyer representing HL, said he denied all the allegations."}],[{"start":119.92,"text":"The case follows intensifying friction between the EU and China over technologies and resources."}],[{"start":126,"text":"The Dutch government has blocked chip toolmaker ASML from selling its most advanced equipment in China. It also took temporary control of Nexperia, a chipmaker, after a court ruled there was a danger its Chinese boss Zhang Xuezheng would move equipment and technology to his Chinese company. Zhang denied allegations against him, saying European bosses had mismanaged the business while he had strengthened Chinese production to create a resilient supply chain."}],[{"start":152.48,"text":"Beijing attacked the move and briefly banned chip exports from Nexperia’s Chinese arm to the EU."}],[{"start":158.56,"text":"Brussels has sanctioned some Chinese companies for allegedly providing assistance to Russia’s military production in its war with Ukraine."}],[{"start":166.901,"text":"China has restricted sales of some rare earth materials to EU countries and banned 14 companies from receiving goods that could have military purposes."}],[{"start":175.992,"text":"There have also been a number of high-profile spying cases involving China in Belgium recently."}],[{"start":181.694,"text":"In June a Canadian intern of Chinese origin was arrested at Nato’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Command Europe (Shape) on suspicion of espionage."}],[{"start":191.564,"text":"Last year an aide to a far-right member of the European parliament was jailed for four years and nine months for spying for China. Jian Guo had worked in Brussels for MEP Maximilian Krah and had passed confidential documents to Chinese authorities, a German court found."}],[{"start":207.747,"text":"The Chinese embassy in Belgium did not immediately respond to a request for comment."}],[{"start":217.52,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788860295_8452.mp3"}