Beijing highlights ‘independent innovation,’ pushes back against ‘Chinese spy narrative’ in Nvidia case

Nvidia’s board investigating whether CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation

China on Thursday rejected what it called the US’ “Chinese spy narrative,” insisting that its technological progress depends on independent innovation and international cooperation rather than espionage.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing amid reports that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces possible removal over reported extramarital affairs, including one involving Alice Huang, a woman suspected of links to Chinese intelligence.

“The United States should stop fabricating the so-called Chinese spy narrative as a pretext for imposing technology restrictions,” Mao said.

“China’s scientific progress relies on independent innovation and open cooperation,” she added.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Nvidia’s board was preparing to oust Huang following reports of two extramarital affairs.

The board was expected to meet as early as Wednesday, US time, to decide his future, the newspaper reported.

The New York Times separately reported that Huang had an affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.

Read: Who is Alice Huang, the Chinese businesswoman tied to Nvidia's CEO?

Huang previously acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife, while Nvidia’s board is investigating whether he was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation.

When asked whether China was concerned that the incident could affect the China-US leaders’ meeting expected next week, Mao said: “We have already made our position clear on the so-called Chinese espionage narrative.”

“China and the US remain in close communication regarding interactions between the two countries’ leaders. We stand ready to work with the US to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two presidents and advance a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity,” Mao said, according to Beijing-based daily Global Times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host his US counterpart Donald Trump in Shenzhen as Beijing hosts the annual APEC leaders’ summit.

Asked about US restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports to China, Mao accused Washington of overstretching national security concerns.

“We are against the US attempts to overstretch the concept of national security,” she said, criticising discriminatory restrictions targeting Chinese companies.