China Dismisses Nvidia Spy Allegations as Submissions Follow Board Investigation

China's foreign ministry has dismissed allegations connecting United States technology company Nvidia and its chief executive to Chinese espionage as unsubstantiated. Foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a press briefing that the claims concerning so-called Chinese spies amount to groundless speculation and slander.

The official response from Beijing follows reports that Nvidia's board of directors initiated an independent investigation into whether Chief Executive Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The inquiry was announced after Mr. Huang acknowledged to the board that he had been intimate with a business executive whom U.S. intelligence determined was gathering information for Beijing.

In a letter to employees obtained by The Associated Press, Mr. Huang confirmed he had been unfaithful to his spouse and apologized to his family and colleagues, stating that he takes full responsibility for his actions. The 63-year-old executive will remain in his role while the investigation proceeds. Nvidia spokesperson John Rizzo stated that the CEO is committed to continuing his duties without interruption.

The controversy centers on Mr. Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen and top executive at Singapore-based data center firm Megaspeed, which is a major customer of Nvidia. According to reports from The New York Times, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Alice Huang was feeding information directly to Beijing. Megaspeed has purchased more than $4.8 billion worth of Nvidia chips over the past two years, and media reports previously noted scrutiny regarding whether advanced artificial intelligence chips were being steered toward Beijing in violation of U.S. export restrictions.

Nvidia's board of directors stated there is currently no reason to believe that national security or company secrets were compromised, though the review will examine all available data. Mr. Huang expressed support for the ongoing review, writing in his employee memo that he is committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting U.S. national security.

U.S. political figures responded variously to the developments. President Donald Trump praised Mr. Huang during a press appearance, describing him as an honorable figure who has achieved an incredible job for the country, noting he had not spoken directly with the CEO regarding the matter. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to comment on the situation while departing for a Group of Seven meeting in Paris, citing the nature of the issue and its status as an internal corporate matter.