China's Ministry of State Security thrust into the spotlight by Nvidia CEO affair

Three Republican lawmakers plan to press Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for a closed-door briefing regarding allegations that he maintained a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman accused of passing sensitive information to Beijing, according to a source. House Foreign Affairs Chairman Brian Mast and two other high-ranking Republican officials approached Huang on November 4, seeking a briefing on the New York Times report.

Should Huang decline to comply or offer an alternative date, the chairperson anticipates issuing a subpoena, as per a spokesperson. The United States and China are in a fierce race to dominate the development of advanced AI systems, with Nvidia at the forefront due to its widely-utilized cutting-edge chips. Washington has long endeavored to curb China's access to those chips for national security reasons, and the Huang allegations have further fueled lawmakers' worries about the adequacy of export controls and safeguards to prevent US technology from helping Beijing, as reported by a source.

House China Committee Chairman John Moolenaar stated on Fox Business that Huang has until 5 p.m. ET (2200 GMT) on Wednesday to decide whether to meet with lawmakers privately. If he fails to do so, the chairperson believes subpoenas are likely, the source added. Nvidia's representative has yet to comment on the matter.