The Netherlands is considering legislation to check for potential security risks the foreign students who intend to study in technological fields, a representative of the Ministry of Education said today.

Such an audit would be the latest in a series of actions by universities and the government aimed at curbing it the access of students and companies from China in Dutch technology. However, the ministry said the new rules would apply to all students coming from countries outside the European Union, not just the Chinese.

The Dutch intelligence agency AIVD warned in April that Dutch universities are an “attractive target” for espionage and that China is the biggest threat. Dutch universities have already started to reject Chinese students receiving scholarship by the China Scholarship Council. Education Minister Robert DeGraff told parliament in April that he would launch a re-evaluation of which university programs receive foreign funding. Last week the Dutch government introduced a security assessment for potential investors in the country who might pose a threat to national security interests.

The Dutch government announced in March that it would adopt stricter export rules for semiconductor technology, prompting ASML Holding NV to say it will soon need permission to export its second-in-line most advanced gear to China. Its most advanced tools are already banned.

The number of foreign students in the Netherlands has been increasing in recent years, sparking controversy over whether the Dutch language should be compulsory in courses. However, proportionately fewer Chinese students have been coming since 2012 and China has fallen from second to fifth place on the list of the most common countries of origin for foreign students, according to Mr Nuffic.