BANGKOK, Nov 9 – China has strongly rejected allegations that its government attempted to use a business executive to gather intelligence on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, describing the accusations as baseless and part of a campaign intended to damage Beijing’s reputation. The denial comes as Nvidia launches an independent investigation into reports that Huang may have been the target of a foreign intelligence operation, raising questions about corporate security, international relations and the growing rivalry between Washington and Beijing over advanced artificial intelligence technology.
The controversy has attracted attention after Huang acknowledged having an intimate relationship with a business executive, although he did not identify the woman in a public letter. The Nvidia chief also apologized to his wife and the company, while expressing his willingness to cooperate with the investigation and reaffirming his commitment to protecting American national security.
The allegations have placed additional scrutiny on Nvidia, one of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies, whose advanced semiconductor technology has become a central issue in the broader competition between the United States and China.
During a regular news briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun directly rejected claims that Beijing had used the woman to establish a relationship with Huang as part of an intelligence operation.
“The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China,” Guo said.
His remarks represented Beijing’s latest response to reports suggesting that Chinese intelligence officials may have attempted to obtain sensitive information through Huang’s personal and professional connections.
Chinese authorities had previously dismissed reporting about Huang’s alleged relationship with a Chinese citizen identified as Alice Huang. The woman was described as a former executive of a Singapore-based data center company, Megaspeed International, which has promoted its business relationship with Nvidia.
The allegations have also raised questions about the company’s commercial connections in Asia, particularly at a time when American officials are increasingly concerned about the movement of advanced semiconductor technology into China.
Nvidia Launches Investigation as Questions Emerge Over Business Connections
Nvidia announced on Sunday that it had begun an independent investigation into reports claiming that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The company has not publicly established whether any intelligence operation occurred or whether confidential corporate information was accessed.
The investigation follows reporting by The New York Times, which said U.S. intelligence agencies had determined that the woman was collecting information for Beijing. The report brought renewed attention to Huang’s relationship with Alice Huang and her previous business activities in the technology sector.
According to the reporting, Alice Huang had served as an executive at Megaspeed International, a Singapore-based data center company whose website prominently advertises its partnership with Nvidia. The company has also faced allegations that it was involved in illegally shipping advanced Nvidia processors into China last year.
Those allegations have added another dimension to the controversy because Nvidia’s products are subject to strict American export controls. Washington has repeatedly sought to prevent sensitive computing technology from reaching Chinese companies and organizations that could use it for military or other strategic purposes.
Megaspeed International and Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs had not immediately responded to requests for comment. Their offices were among those affected by a public holiday in Singapore on Monday, making it difficult to obtain immediate clarification from the company or relevant authorities.
Huang addressed the controversy in an open letter published on Nvidia’s website. While acknowledging that he had been intimate with a business executive, he did not identify the woman or provide additional details about their relationship.
He apologized to his wife and Nvidia, while making clear that he supported the company’s decision to examine the allegations.
“I support the investigation and will cooperate fully. I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security,” Huang wrote.
His statement emphasized his willingness to assist investigators and protect the company’s interests. However, it did not establish whether he had any knowledge of the alleged intelligence activities or whether information connected to Nvidia had been disclosed.
George Chen, a partner and chair of digital practice at Washington-based consultancy The Asia Group, said the central issue was whether Huang knew about any possible espionage activities and whether sensitive information had been compromised.
“The key questions are whether he was aware of any espionage activities and whether any confidential or strategically sensitive information was compromised,” Chen said in a text message to reporters.
“Those questions require evidence rather than speculation,” he added.
Chen’s assessment highlights the distinction between the existence of a personal relationship and evidence of an intelligence operation. Establishing whether corporate or government-sensitive information was obtained would require investigators to examine communications, business dealings and any relevant exchanges of information.
The allegations also had an immediate effect on financial markets. Nvidia shares fell approximately 5% in premarket trading on Monday as investors reacted to the developments and the uncertainty surrounding the investigation.
The company has become a major player in the global technology industry because of its processors, which are widely used to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems. Its market position has placed it alongside major technology companies such as Apple and Microsoft among the world’s most valuable publicly traded businesses.
The controversy is particularly sensitive because Nvidia’s relationship with the Chinese market has been shaped by competing commercial interests and national security restrictions.
Huang has repeatedly argued in Washington that American companies should be allowed to maintain access to China’s technology market rather than surrendering opportunities to international competitors. His lobbying efforts have focused on persuading U.S. officials to permit certain Nvidia products to be sold to Chinese customers under controlled conditions.
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 processors to China. Although the H200 is not the company’s most advanced chip, it remains a powerful computing processor with significant capabilities for artificial intelligence development.
However, approval from Washington does not necessarily mean that Chinese companies will be able to purchase the processors in large quantities. Beijing has maintained its own restrictions on certain purchases, creating uncertainty about the commercial prospects of American semiconductor manufacturers in the Chinese market.
Nvidia disclosed in a regulatory filing in August that it had sold only a limited number of H200 chips to China, partly because of restrictions imposed by the Chinese government.
The dispute over access to advanced processors has been an ongoing issue between the two countries. Before the H200 discussions, Huang also pressed the Trump administration to permit sales of Nvidia’s H20 processors, which were specifically designed to comply with American export restrictions targeting China.
These decisions illustrate the complicated position Nvidia occupies between the world’s two largest economies. The company wants to protect its international business opportunities, while U.S. policymakers remain concerned about China’s access to technology that could strengthen its artificial intelligence and military capabilities.
Chinese media coverage of the latest controversy has largely concentrated on Huang’s acknowledgment of the personal relationship. State-controlled outlets have generally followed Beijing’s official position, rejecting the espionage allegations and questioning the motives behind the reporting.
Some Chinese commentators have suggested that the accusations could undermine efforts to improve relations between Washington and Beijing, particularly as both governments continue discussions involving trade, technology and economic cooperation.
The state-owned Global Times criticized the timing and nature of the allegations, arguing that they emerged when relations between the two countries appeared to be improving.
“Whenever China-US relations begin to improve, there are often those firing shots from the shadows,” the newspaper said.
The newspaper’s comments reflected a broader narrative in Chinese state media that the accusations could be politically motivated and potentially damaging to diplomatic relations.
Nevertheless, the central questions surrounding the allegations remain unresolved. Nvidia’s independent investigation will need to establish whether Huang was approached as part of an intelligence operation, whether he was aware of any suspicious activities and whether confidential company information was exposed.
The investigation could also bring further attention to the commercial activities of companies operating between Singapore, China and the United States, particularly those involved in data centers and advanced computing infrastructure.
For now, Beijing continues to reject the allegations, while Nvidia has committed to examining the matter. Neither the Chinese government nor the available public statements from Nvidia have established that an espionage operation took place or that sensitive information was compromised.
The outcome of the investigation could have implications beyond Huang’s personal circumstances, potentially affecting Nvidia’s corporate security practices, its relationships with international business partners and the wider debate over technology cooperation between the United States and China.