China accuses the US of using espionage claims involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to justify restrictions on advanced technology exports

China has accused the United States of using unsubstantiated espionage allegations as a pretext to restrict its access to advanced technology, following reports that Nvidia co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang was targeted in an alleged Chinese intelligence operation.

Also read: Nvidia Board Reportedly Weighs Jensen Huang’s Removal as CEO

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the accusation on Thursday during a regular press briefing, rejecting claims linking a woman reportedly associated with Huang to Chinese intelligence.

“China’s technological progress is driven by independent innovation and open cooperation. The US side should stop fabricating such ‘spy’ narratives as a pretext for imposing a technological blockade,” Mao said.

Huang, who co-founded Nvidia and helped transform it into the world’s leading supplier of chips used in artificial intelligence systems, recently acknowledged having an extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed.

US officials reportedly suspect Alice Huang of working for Chinese intelligence, although the allegation has not been independently established.

Beijing has dismissed the espionage claims involving the Nvidia chief as “groundless speculation”, describing them as an attempt to smear China.

The controversy comes amid longstanding tensions between Washington and Beijing over access to advanced semiconductor technology, particularly processors used to develop and operate artificial intelligence systems.

Huang has spent years lobbying against restrictions on Nvidia’s advanced chip sales to China, arguing against measures that could limit the company’s access to one of the world’s major technology markets.

US President Donald Trump last year approved the export of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China, despite objections from lawmakers in both political parties who fear that access to advanced American processors could strengthen Beijing’s position in the global artificial intelligence race.

The dispute has become another point of tension in the wider technology rivalry between the two countries, with Washington seeking to limit China’s access to certain advanced computing capabilities and Beijing insisting that its technological development should not be obstructed.

The latest diplomatic exchange comes ahead of a planned meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in Shenzhen, southern China, next week.

The meeting is expected to take place against the backdrop of disagreements over trade, technology and strategic competition between the world’s two largest economies.

Also read: Nvidia Board Reportedly Weighs Jensen Huang’s Removal as CEO

Beijing’s latest remarks underline its opposition to what it sees as US efforts to use national security concerns to justify restrictions on Chinese access to advanced technology.