Politics1 min read

US commerce secy was sent secret memo on Nvidia CEO’s affair with Chinese spy: Report

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The classified file focused on Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed who was determined to be operating for China's Ministry of State Security. While strict limits have blocked direct advanced chip exports to China since late 2022, Chinese companies continue to access restricted computing power via overseas data centers like Megaspeed's. President Donald Trump, who was briefed on the intelligence in May aboard Air Force One, maintained that Jensen Huang was unaware of the woman's espionage ties. Trump confirmed the executive will not join his upcoming diplomatic journey to China.

Key points

  • Disclosures of the relationship contradict previous administration assertions regarding p…: Disclosures of the relationship contradict previous administration assertions regarding prior knowledge of the counterintelligence risk.
  • Chinese entities continue circumventing direct semiconductor export bans by renting compu…: Chinese entities continue circumventing direct semiconductor export bans by renting computing power through Southeast Asian facilities.
  • Intensified scrutiny over Nvidia's government ties has pushed company shares lower amid e…: Intensified scrutiny over Nvidia's government ties has pushed company shares lower amid escalating global technology competition.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick was sent a highly classified memo, overseen by secretary of State

Marco Rubio, warning about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with woman suspected of being a Chinese spy.

The document, which drew on surveillance of Alice Huang and an investigation into alleged chip smuggling involving her company, Singapore-based Megaspeed, was circulated before President

Donald Trump's May 13-15 visit to China.

Rubio oversaw the preparation of the memo, which detailed Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, whom US intelligence officials believe to be a Chinese intelligence agent, according to The New York Times.

US President Donald Trump, while heading towards China in May, was briefed on intelligence shortly before Huang joined the Presidential trip at Trump’s invitation.

Huang was initially left off the invitation list for business and technology leaders travelling to China with Trump in May. The decision attracted attention before the President's departure from the US.

Trump later invited Huang to join the trip during a refuelling stop in Alaska.

Rubio was among more than a dozen administration officials aboard Air Force One.

A US…

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