China Rejects Allegations of Spy Plot Involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang

Beijing: China on Monday dismissed allegations that an attempt had been made to entrap Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in a Chinese espionage operation, describing the claims as unsubstantiated and part of a smear campaign against Beijing.

Huang reportedly informed Nvidia's board that he had been involved in an intimate relationship with a business executive whom US intelligence agencies had identified as allegedly gathering information for China, according to The New York Times report.

Responding to the allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the claims had no credible basis.

"The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China," Guo said.

The controversy comes amid scrutiny of Nvidia's business dealings with China and allegations over whether Huang helped facilitate sales of advanced semiconductor chips to the country despite US export restrictions intended to limit Beijing's access to the technology.

Nvidia announced on Sunday that it would investigate the matter.

China had earlier rejected a New York Times report alleging that Huang had developed a close relationship with a Chinese citizen identified as Alice Huang. She reportedly headed a company that faced allegations of smuggling advanced chips into China and was suspected by US intelligence of working for Beijing.

Huang has also been involved in efforts to ease US restrictions on semiconductor exports to China. He successfully lobbied US President Donald Trump to permit Nvidia to sell its H200 chips to Chinese customers.