Chinese university bought banned Nvidia AI chips despite US controls

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 22:32 · Archive

A Chinese military-linked university on the US export blacklist purchased Nvidia H200 AI chips last month, procurement records show.

Northwestern Polytechnical University, a member of China's 'Seven Sons of National Defense' group of elite defence-focused universities, purchased two H200 chips last month for 874,700 yuan ($123,000), according to an October 21 procurement record on its website. The university, based in Xi'an and involved in research related to military aircraft, missiles and satellites, has been on the US Department of Commerce's Entity List since 2001 over alleged involvement in missile-proliferation activities.

The chips were bought for the university's management school from Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology rather than directly from Nvidia. The H200 is among Nvidia's most capable chips for training and running advanced AI systems and is subject to US export licence approvals, which are normally denied for blacklisted institutions. The procurement records also show the university bought access to H200 chips and other powerful Nvidia processors through five contracts for rented computing capacity from Chinese companies.

The purchase comes as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces mounting scrutiny in Washington. Some US lawmakers say access to Nvidia's most powerful AI chips can speed China's development of AI systems for weapons design, intelligence analysis and military modernisation. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have urged stronger controls on China's access to advanced AI chips, including chip-tracking requirements and greater congressional oversight of exports.

Huang has argued that continued US sales to China would preserve American technological leadership and keep Chinese customers reliant on US technology. However, three Republican congressional committee chairmen have requested a briefing with Huang on November 18 over his reported contacts with an alleged Chinese intelligence operative, part of broader scrutiny following reports of his affair with a woman US intelligence concluded was a Chinese spy.

How it is being reported

• Jensen Huang affair in D.C.: Resignation calls and moves to tighten Nvidia China exportsHuang was notably opposed to strict export controls on AI chips to China, which ruffled feathers with congressional China hawks.CNBC · 11 Nov, 22:14
• Megaspeed's vacant offices raise questions about ties to Nvidia, ChinaThe unusual global footprint of Megaspeed, a major buyer of Nvidia's powerful AI computer chips, is fueling questions about whether it's a front for the Chinese government.CBS News · 11 Nov, 15:41
• PLA-linked Chinese university bought Nvidia H200 chips despite US blacklist, records showChina's blacklisted Northwestern Polytechnical University bought Nvidia's H200 AI chips despite US export controls, procurement records show.New York Post · 11 Nov, 08:31
• Chinese university buys Nvidia AI H200 chips despite US ban, records showInvestigation reveals Chinese entities accessing US-restricted AI tech despite stringent export control measures.Al Jazeera · 11 Nov, 07:26

In this story: Northwestern Polytechnical University · Nvidia · Jensen Huang · China · United States · Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology · Xi'an

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log