Chinese Universities Bypass U.S. Sanctions to Acquire Nvidia AI Chips
Northwestern Polytechnical University and other Chinese institutions acquired restricted Nvidia AI chips through domestic suppliers despite U.S. Commerce Department export bans.
Several Chinese institutions, including Northwestern Polytechnical University, acquired restricted Nvidia AI chips in October despite being on the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List. Procurement records indicate Northwestern Polytechnical University paid 874,700 yuan for two H200 processors via a domestic supplier, Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology. The university also rented server access to H200, A100, and A800 chips for engineering simulations and AI training.
Similar acquisitions of restricted H100, A100, and A800 chips were identified at Beihang University, Shenzhen University, and Wuhan University of Technology. These institutions are often linked to the People's Liberation Army, with Northwestern Polytechnical University specifically conducting research on missiles, satellites, and military aircraft.
The leaks come as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers regarding his lobbying for Chinese market access and reported contacts with a Chinese intelligence operative. Three Republican congressional committee chairmen have requested a briefing with Huang on November 18. While Huang maintains that sales to China preserve U.S. technological leadership, lawmakers argue that the availability of these chips accelerates Chinese weapons design and military modernization.
