Military-linked Chinese university bought Nvidia H200 chips despite U.S. blacklist, records show

China's Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) recently acquired advanced AI chips from Nvidia despite strict US export controls, procurement notices reveal. This purchase was made by the school's management school, an institution affiliated with China's defense sector, and another by the university's cybersecurity school. The H200 chips, subject to US restrictions limiting direct shipments to China and their resale globally, were procured for the universities' management and cybersecurity programs.

The advanced technology chips, which cost 874,700 yuan and 796,000 yuan respectively, came from Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology, a reseller not affiliated with Nvidia. The news comes amid a crisis for Nvidia, following reports that its co-founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, may have been involved in a Chinese espionage operation. Huang, who has a close relationship with US President Donald Trump, is facing potential removal from the Nvidia board according to reports.