Nvidia’s Huang doesn’t buy the national security concerns over selling chips to China
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference at the APEC CEO summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on October 31, 2025.
Ezra Acayan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is dismissive of national security concerns about his firm selling its most advanced semiconductors to China, claiming the cooperation is in everyone’s best interest.
Speaking to reporters in South Korea, Huang said he would continue campaigning for access to the Chinese market and was “optimistic” that the country would continue to want U.S. chips as it positions itself as an AI leader.
“The way to think about the China market is that it is a singular, vital, important, dynamic market and no one can replace it,” he said.
“It is in America’s interest to serve the Chinese market. It is in China’s interest for the American technology company to bring technology to the Chinese market… It is in the interest of both countries, and I hope policymakers will eventually come to that conclusion.”
His comments come across US export restrictions This restricts Chinese firms from purchasing advanced semiconductors used in the development of artificial intelligence.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he discussed exports of Nvidia chips with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the leaders met, but the talks did not include the most advanced Blackwell graphics processing units. “I said it was really in between [China] and Nvidia, but we’re kind of the arbiters,” Trump said after the meeting.
US announces chip restrictions It is designed to both restrict China’s “access to technologies and its ability to produce advanced chips” and restrict its access to “related computing and artificial intelligence applications.”
However, Huang stated that these concerns were unfounded.
“China itself produces plenty of AI chips, and the Chinese military also has plenty of access to chips made in China. So, regardless of national security concerns, we have to take into account the fact that China is blocking H20.” [an Nvidia chip] “China, in many ways, is saying: ‘Listen, we have enough AI technology, too,’” Huang told CNBC’s Eunice Yoon on Friday.
“And from that perspective, I think the answer to the national security concern is actually answered by the fact that China doesn’t want H20 or any American chips.”
‘It’s stupid to underestimate Huawei’
Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei is also at the center of technology tensions between the USA and China.
Federal use of Huawei products is banned in the United States due to fears that they could be used for espionage by the Chinese government, while US companies are also restricted from doing business with this company. The bans took effect during Trump’s first term.
Huang said Nvidia was “miles ahead” in the chip race, but stressed that it was “foolish to underestimate China’s strength and Huawei’s incredible, competitive spirit.”
“This is a company with extraordinary technology. They dominate the world’s 5G telecommunications standards and technology. They make great smartphones, they make great chips, they are incredible at networking, and so when they announced CloudMatrix, I wasn’t surprised that they were able to create something so amazing,” Huang said, referring to Huawei’s large-scale AI supercomputing system.
“To think that Huawei cannot produce systems is extremely ignorant. We take competition very seriously. We respect competition, we deeply respect China’s capabilities. That’s why we run so fast, and that’s why we dedicate ourselves to inventing the future, so we can get there before anyone else,” he added.
— CNBC’s Eunice Yoon, Spencer Kimball and Arjun Kharpal contributed reporting.
