TOPIC

/ people

Wang Wentao

The latest news on Chinese politician Wang Wentao, including political stories and updates.

Born

May 1964

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Minister of Commerce, China

Maros Sefcovic said Brussels is reviewing trade defence tools and monitoring imports of Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

Commissioner calls for faster trade probes and WTO reform as Brussels confronts overcapacity, subsidies and a US$424 billion deficit.

25 Feb 2026 - 9:18AMvideocam

China trade

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

20 Jan 2026 - 11:24PMvideocam

China-South Korea relations

Blackpink for Ayumi? Why China may reward South Korea’s soft stance on Japan row

22 Dec 2025 - 10:44AMvideocam

China-Germany relations

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

9 Dec 2025 - 2:08PM

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters that Europe must be “extremely cautious” about imposing duties on China. Photo: Reuters

China-Germany relations

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

8 Dec 2025 - 9:38PM

China trade

Chinese minister calls for more opening-up as key planning meeting looms

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s remarks echo similar calls by other senior officials ahead of annual central economic work conference.

8 Dec 2025 - 6:30PMvideocam

Semiconductors

Tensions flare as Wingtech slams chipmaker Nexperia’s head office over deception

The heightened tensions underscore the complexity in resolving the two sides’ dispute over the control of the Dutch chipmaker.

28 Nov 2025 - 10:27PM

Nexperia

China, EU shift Nexperia strategy: let the companies work it out

Wang Wentao shifts focus to the boardroom but warns the Dutch government must still scrap the executive order and court ruling fuelling the crisis.

27 Nov 2025 - 10:06PMvideocam

Semiconductors

Explainer | A timeline of the Sino-Dutch row over the control of chipmaker Nexperia

The Hague suspends use of Cold War-era law called upon to seize control of Chinese-owned Nexperia, as dispute imperils global supply chains.

21 Nov 2025 - 9:00PM

China consumption

800 million: how a new target indicates a shift in China’s economic strategy

China projects it will have 800 million people living on middle incomes in 10 years, as it pledges to ‘invest more in people’.

17 Nov 2025 - 4:12PMvideocam

Shoppers walk the streets in Beijing. China projects its middle-income population will reach 800 million within the next 10 years. Photo: EPA-EFE

US-China trade war

China patient in Nexperia row – but escalation seen as possible as talks loom

Beijing wants diplomatic solution but may take countermeasures if Dutch side refuses to budge, analysts warn.

14 Nov 2025 - 7:30PMvideocam

China-Japan relations

Has Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?

The Japanese prime minister’s comments about military intervention were unusually direct for such a sensitive topic.

13 Nov 2025 - 1:19PMvideocam

China trade

China pushes for trilateral trade pact with Japan, South Korea amid US tension

Divergent interests, new governments and Washington’s influence complicate Beijing’s efforts to forge deeper economic ties with Japan and South Korea.

4 Nov 2025 - 10:54AMvideocam

China-Japan relations

China’s Okinawa remarks challenge militarisation, not sovereignty: analysts

Observers say Chinese envoy’s comments about ‘indigenous’ Okinawans not intended to question Japan’s rule over southern prefecture.

1 Nov 2025 - 6:36PMvideocam

Okinawa is home to 32 US military bases. Photo: Getty Images

US-China relations

‘Amazing’ praise: Xi and Trump thaw summit ice with loads of warmth

Amid a bruising trade war, the two leaders rekindle friendly tone ahead of their first face-to-face encounter in six years.

30 Oct 2025 - 11:02PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talk as they leave a bilateral meeting in South Korea on Thursday. With many deals already finalised ahead of the meeting, the two leaders had plenty of space for cordiality. Photo: Reuters

Semiconductors

Nexperia’s China factory cuts output as Dutch takeover deepens global chip supply tensions

Nexperia’s main China factory has cut production after Dutch authorities seized control of its headquarters.

27 Oct 2025 - 9:02PM

Semiconductors

Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts car sector supply chain at risk

All eyes are on Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels to defuse the row over Nexperia.

26 Oct 2025 - 11:00AM

Semiconductors

Nexperia parent Wingtech warns of ‘cash flow risk’ despite 280% surge in profit

Wingtech’s semiconductor operations posted revenue of 4.3 billion yuan in the quarter, accounting for 97 per cent of the total.

25 Oct 2025 - 6:00PM

China-EU relations

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

25 Oct 2025 - 5:51PMvideocam

137

China’s fourth plenum

China to tackle risks, ‘inject certainty’ into global economy over next 5 years

In a press conference following Central Committee plenum, officials detailed China’s priorities under the next five-year plan.

24 Oct 2025 - 9:30PM

China-EU relations

EU sanctions state-linked Chinese oil companies over Russia war support

Beijing slams latest punishment ensnaring 15 entities, reiterating it ‘has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict’.

23 Oct 2025 - 9:30PMvideocam

Oil pumpjacks outside Almetyevsk, Russia, on July 14. The EU accused the newly sanctioned refineries of processing Russian-origin crude oil that provides revenue to the Kremlin’s war effort against Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

US-China tech war

Chinese investors grill listed companies with European units after Dutch move

Investors have asked at least seven companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen about risks stemming from their European units.

23 Oct 2025 - 9:00PM

An employee handles a silicon wafer at Nexperia in Hamburg, Germany, June 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Semiconductors

Nexperia China accuses Dutch head office of spreading misinformation to customers

The Dutch chipmaker’s head office continues to ‘disregard the lawful rights’ of the firm’s China entities, a post by Nexperia (Shanghai) says.

23 Oct 2025 - 4:40PM

China-EU relations

Europe brings knife to China’s rare earth gunfight

China’s block on Nexperia chip sales to the European Union highlights the bloc’s reliance on Chinese factories and its weak hand in talks on Beijing’s rare earth export controls.

22 Oct 2025 - 5:02PM

China-EU relations

Nexperia seizure: China urges Dutch to ‘properly’ resolve case as talks continue

Beijing said The Hague’s seizure of chipmaker Nexperia threatened global supply chains as two sides held first ministerial call over issue.

22 Oct 2025 - 4:51PMvideocam

A view of Dutch chipmaker Nexperia’s factory in China’s southern Guangdong province. The Dutch government seized control of the Chinese-owned company in late September. Photo: Coco Feng

China-EU relations

China agrees to crisis talks in Brussels to discuss rare earths compromise

EU trade chief to meet Chinese counterpart to find ‘urgent solutions’ to China’s tightening of its restrictions on rare earth exports.

22 Oct 2025 - 2:03AMvideocam

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic spoke for “almost two hours” with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Tuesday, during which the Chinese official agreed to talks in Brussels. Photo: Reuters

China-Japan relations

Turbulent Japanese politics could slow progress with China, South Korea: analysts

Tokyo’s ability to be effective in major diplomatic events is said to suffer as no single political party can maintain a stable government.

17 Oct 2025 - 1:00PMvideocam

Apple

Apple’s iPhone Air sells out in China after CEO Tim Cook’s visit

Pre-sales for the model, which only received Chinese regulatory approval recently, began on Friday morning.

17 Oct 2025 - 12:15PM

Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.

SUPPORT NOW

Wang Wentao

EU too slow to act as China rewrites global trade rules, trade chief Sefcovic warns

Commissioner calls for faster trade probes and WTO reform as Brussels confronts overcapacity, subsidies and a US$424 billion deficit.

China’s zero-tariff gambit: why Beijing is slashing duties as Trump raises them

Blackpink for Ayumi? Why China may reward South Korea’s soft stance on Japan row

Hitting China with tariffs should be ‘last resort’, German foreign minister says

During two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Johann Wadephul also calls for Beijing to recognise Europe’s concerns and ‘take action’.

German foreign minister calls for end to ‘uncertainty’ on Chinese rare earths, chips

Critical minerals, semiconductors and other commodities dominate talks as Johann Wadephul begins trip to China aimed at addressing trade.

Chinese minister calls for more opening-up as key planning meeting looms

Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s remarks echo similar calls by other senior officials ahead of annual central economic work conference.

Tensions flare as Wingtech slams chipmaker Nexperia’s head office over deception

The heightened tensions underscore the complexity in resolving the two sides’ dispute over the control of the Dutch chipmaker.

China, EU shift Nexperia strategy: let the companies work it out

Wang Wentao shifts focus to the boardroom but warns the Dutch government must still scrap the executive order and court ruling fuelling the crisis.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | A timeline of the Sino-Dutch row over the control of chipmaker Nexperia

The Hague suspends use of Cold War-era law called upon to seize control of Chinese-owned Nexperia, as dispute imperils global supply chains.

800 million: how a new target indicates a shift in China’s economic strategy

China projects it will have 800 million people living on middle incomes in 10 years, as it pledges to ‘invest more in people’.

China patient in Nexperia row – but escalation seen as possible as talks loom

Beijing wants diplomatic solution but may take countermeasures if Dutch side refuses to budge, analysts warn.

Has Takaichi planted a Taiwan ‘time bomb’ in Tokyo’s ties with Beijing?

The Japanese prime minister’s comments about military intervention were unusually direct for such a sensitive topic.

China pushes for trilateral trade pact with Japan, South Korea amid US tension

Divergent interests, new governments and Washington’s influence complicate Beijing’s efforts to forge deeper economic ties with Japan and South Korea.

China’s Okinawa remarks challenge militarisation, not sovereignty: analysts

Observers say Chinese envoy’s comments about ‘indigenous’ Okinawans not intended to question Japan’s rule over southern prefecture.

‘Amazing’ praise: Xi and Trump thaw summit ice with loads of warmth

Amid a bruising trade war, the two leaders rekindle friendly tone ahead of their first face-to-face encounter in six years.

Nexperia’s China factory cuts output as Dutch takeover deepens global chip supply tensions

Nexperia’s main China factory has cut production after Dutch authorities seized control of its headquarters.

Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts car sector supply chain at risk

All eyes are on Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao’s meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels to defuse the row over Nexperia.

Nexperia parent Wingtech warns of ‘cash flow risk’ despite 280% surge in profit

Wingtech’s semiconductor operations posted revenue of 4.3 billion yuan in the quarter, accounting for 97 per cent of the total.

Von der Leyen vows to strike back against China as EU feels rare earths squeeze

The bloc is ready to use all of the tools at its disposal in response to Beijing’s export controls, commission chief says.

China to tackle risks, ‘inject certainty’ into global economy over next 5 years

In a press conference following Central Committee plenum, officials detailed China’s priorities under the next five-year plan.

EU sanctions state-linked Chinese oil companies over Russia war support

Beijing slams latest punishment ensnaring 15 entities, reiterating it ‘has never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict’.

Chinese investors grill listed companies with European units after Dutch move

Investors have asked at least seven companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen about risks stemming from their European units.

Nexperia China accuses Dutch head office of spreading misinformation to customers

The Dutch chipmaker’s head office continues to ‘disregard the lawful rights’ of the firm’s China entities, a post by Nexperia (Shanghai) says.

Europe brings knife to China’s rare earth gunfight

China’s block on Nexperia chip sales to the European Union highlights the bloc’s reliance on Chinese factories and its weak hand in talks on Beijing’s rare earth export controls.

Nexperia seizure: China urges Dutch to ‘properly’ resolve case as talks continue

Beijing said The Hague’s seizure of chipmaker Nexperia threatened global supply chains as two sides held first ministerial call over issue.

China agrees to crisis talks in Brussels to discuss rare earths compromise

EU trade chief to meet Chinese counterpart to find ‘urgent solutions’ to China’s tightening of its restrictions on rare earth exports.

Turbulent Japanese politics could slow progress with China, South Korea: analysts

Tokyo’s ability to be effective in major diplomatic events is said to suffer as no single political party can maintain a stable government.

Apple’s iPhone Air sells out in China after CEO Tim Cook’s visit

Pre-sales for the model, which only received Chinese regulatory approval recently, began on Friday morning.

Explainer | A timeline of the Sino-Dutch row over the control of chipmaker Nexperia