Posted on February 25, 2026
The European Union is increasingly concerned about China’s presence in European ports, including the Port of Rotterdam. The European Commission wants to search all ports for weaknesses and “dirty companies,” AD reports from a draft version of the new European Port Strategy.
The European Commission fears that crucial data, systems, and supplies will end up in the wrong hands, making Europe vulnerable in the event of conflict. The strategy never names China, but according to the newspaper, the focus is unmistakably on that country.
The port of Rotterdam is also not explicitly named, but as Europe’s largest port, it receives a lot of attention. Over half of the containers passing through the port of Rotterdam are linked to China in some way, according to AD. The Financieele Dagblad also recently discovered that almost 80 percent of the port’s space is occupied by foreign companies, including over 9 percent Chinese companies and 11 percent American companies.
The European Commission now wants to thoroughly investigate the current power of foreign parties and where danger lurks in the European ports, according to AD. Important port countries like the Netherlands must be able to guarantee emergency access to key ports and infrastructure, for example, to facilitate military transport and keep economic arteries open.
The Commission is also concerned about digital security. Many software systems in ports are linked ot China. The European Commission feels uneasy with foreign parties having control over crucial transport data and the systems that operate its ports.
The European Commission will examine all ports, including the smaller ones like Vlissingen and Amsterdam, for vulnerabilities. If the Commission finds that certain companies pose too great a risk, the port will have to shut down their operations.
Researchers from Clingendael have previously highlighted the risks of China’s presence in European ports. According to the researchers, this could disrupt the functioning of ports, weaken European companies and trade flows, and enable China to force its way into disputes with certain countries. That could “undermine the unity of the EU and NATO.”
