Key Notes
- Global Times rejected allegations linking Beijing to the reported intelligence effort involving Jensen Huang.
- China’s Foreign Ministry repeated its denial while Nvidia’s independent directors continue their review.
- House committee chairmen have requested a November 18 briefing and a response from Huang by November 11.
China’s state-run Global Times rejected allegations linking Beijing to an intelligence effort targeting Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) chief executive Jensen Huang, accusing US media outlets of turning his admitted extramarital affair into an unproven spy narrative.
China’s Foreign Ministry separately repeated its official denial on Monday. The responses came a day after Nvidia announced an independent review of reports that Huang had been targeted by foreign intelligence.
The dispute brings Beijing’s diplomatic response alongside a corporate investigation and congressional scrutiny of Nvidia’s security safeguards. Neither the newspaper’s commentary nor the ministry’s denial represents a finding by the company’s investigators.
Global Times Challenges the Spy Narrative
In a Chinese-language commentary posted through its official Sina account on November 9, Global Times argued that Huang’s admission of infidelity did not establish that China had infiltrated Nvidia. It noted that his public apology had not identified the woman involved.
The newspaper criticized attempts to connect photographs and Nvidia’s advocacy for looser chip-trade restrictions with claims of espionage. It warned that treating the allegations as established facts could damage normal technology and commercial exchanges between China and the United States.
Those arguments reflect the newspaper’s position on the reporting. The underlying intelligence allegations remain disputed, while Nvidia’s board has commissioned its own review.
Beijing Repeats Its Official Denial
Asked about the reports at Monday’s regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “The ‘Chinese spy’ allegation is purely unsubstantiated and directed at smearing China.”
Guo said Beijing had already responded to the issue the previous week. He was answering a question about Nvidia’s investigation and reports in The New York Times and the Financial Times linking Huang to a Chinese business executive.
The briefing also addressed the wider chip-trade dispute. Asked how China would respond to tighter US technology restrictions, Guo said its position on American chip exports remained consistent and referred specific questions to the relevant authorities. He announced no new chip-trade measure in that response.
Independent Directors Lead Nvidia’s Review
Nvidia’s board statement says independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the inquiry. The board expressed confidence in Huang and his leadership team and said it had no reason to believe company secrets or US national security had been compromised.
That statement sets out the board’s position at the start of the investigation. It does not announce a completed review or establish whether the reported foreign intelligence effort occurred.
In his employee letter, Huang apologized for being unfaithful to his wife, said he remained committed to Nvidia and pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation. He did not identify the woman or confirm the espionage allegations.
Congressional Questions Extend Beyond the Boardroom
Three House committee chairmen have requested a briefing from Huang on Nvidia’s protections against foreign espionage and his reported interactions with a Megaspeed executive. Brian Mast, John Moolenaar and Rick Crawford proposed a joint closed-door session on November 18.
The national-security questions sit alongside a substantial commercial dispute over chip sales. Nvidia’s third-quarter forecast calls for revenue of $108 billion, plus or minus 2%, while assuming no Data Center compute revenue from China. Huang has criticized chip restrictions and argued for engagement with China, including in comments filmed on October 14.
Nvidia is scheduled to report earnings on November 17, one day before the proposed congressional session. The lawmakers’ letter asks Huang to accept their requested briefing date or propose another congressional session day by November 11.
