Blacklisted Chinese University Bought Nvidia H200 Chips Despite US Curbs

Procurement records show that Northwestern Polytechnical University, a Chinese institution with military ties that has been on the U.S. export blacklist for years, bought two Nvidia H200 chips for about $123,000 from a Chinese supplier. Reuters also found that the university accessed H200s and other advanced Nvidia processors through five rental-computing contracts, while records indicate other Chinese institutions used similar routes despite U.S. restrictions. The disclosures have raised questions about export-control enforcement as lawmakers debate tighter oversight and chip-tracking requirements. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces scrutiny over his advocacy for continued chip sales to China and reported contacts with an alleged Chinese intelligence operative. Separately, a report alleges that former Singapore tech executive Alice Huang helped route billions of dollars in restricted Nvidia chips to Chinese firms; the allegations have not been established, and Megaspeed has disputed claims of smuggling.