China Rejects Spying Claims Around Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Calls Them Smears As Shares Slip

Nvidia shares dropped around 5 per cent in pre-market trading after the controversy over Jensen Huang and Alice Huang

November 9, 2026

Beijing calls allegations involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang a smear campaign

Huang lobbied Trump to allow H200 chip sales to China, though Beijing’s willingness to buy in bulk is unclear

China on Monday rejected allegations of a spying operation targeting Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, calling them unsubstantiated and a “smear campaign” against Beijing.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the so-called Chinese spy allegation had no basis and amounted to nothing more than smears against China.

The controversy began with a New York Times report that Huang had developed a close relationship with Chinese businesswoman Alice Huang, who is believed to be an intelligence asset for Beijing. Huang has since admitted the affair and apologised to his family.

Nvidia’s board has said it has no reason to believe national security or company secrets were compromised, and has launched an independent inquiry. Nvidia shares fell around 5 per cent in pre-market trading on Monday.

The episode puts Huang’s China record under a harsher light. According to the Associated Press, he has pushed in recent years to loosen restrictions on chip sales to China. He lobbied US President Donald Trump this year to let Nvidia sell its H200 chips, though it is unclear whether Beijing would allow Chinese companies to buy them in bulk. The H200 is not Nvidia’s most cutting-edge model, but it remains an advanced chip. He had earlier lobbied for the sale of the less advanced H20, designed for the Chinese market within US export rules.

Nvidia said in an August filing that it had sold only a small amount to China, because such sales are restricted by the Chinese government.

Chinese media have largely focused on Huang’s admission of the affair, and state outlets have echoed the official line. Some have suggested the New York Times report was meant to destabilise US-China relations. The state-run Global Times said that whenever ties begin to improve, there are often those firing shots from the shadows.

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