Nvidia’s Jensen Huang exits ahead of APEC: Could China’s spying controversy complicate Trump’s meeting with Xi? | Today’s news

The past few weeks have been turbulent for Nvidia, the world’s largest semiconductor company by market capitalization, and its CEO Jensen Huang. The controversy began after reports revealed his alleged connection to Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman who US officials suspect of having links to Chinese intelligence. Jensen Huang subsequently admitted to being unfaithful to his wife, although he did not identify the person involved. Allegations of Alice Huang’s connection to Chinese intelligence have yet to be independently proven. Subsequently, another report emerged claiming that the Nvidia boss was involved in a second extramarital affair. On Thursday (local time), Huang stepped down as the company’s CEO.

This development comes at a crucial time, when on the 18th-19th In November, the Asia Pacific Economic Leaders (APEC) meeting will be held in Shenzhen. US President Donald Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit, raising questions about whether the controversy surrounding Huang could cast a shadow over the high-stakes engagement.

Several reports claimed that Trump was informed of Huang’s alleged relationship with Alice Huang. However, the American president denied that he knew about the matter before, and at the same time expressed his sympathy for the head of Nvidia, who was getting closer to him.

Quick answers to key questions

•5 QUESTIONS

Huang resigned amid reports of extramarital affairs, including that of Alice Huang, who US officials suspected of having ties to Chinese intelligence. The report said Nvidia’s board acted after the second alleged affair came to light.

No. The Justice Department said it has not concluded whether Alice Huang was a spy, and the FBI is investigating reports of her alleged ties to the Chinese government. The allegations have not been independently proven.

The meeting could complicate that because it comes at a time of tensions over semiconductor exports, artificial intelligence and technology competition. Analysts cited in the article said the controversy was unlikely to immediately change Trump’s approach to Beijing.

Nvidia’s advanced artificial intelligence chips are central to the global race to develop powerful artificial intelligence systems, making access to them a major concern for Washington and Beijing. Huang urged the US to ease restrictions on chip sales to China.

The article does not say that tighter controls are certain. The dispute is said to have increased pressure from lawmakers on both sides to investigate Nvidia’s sales in China and consider tighter limits on exports of advanced AI chips.

Read also | Chinese spy used ties to Nvidia CEO to move 240,000 chips

In an interview with the Salem News Channel on Thursday (local time), Trump said, “Well, we gave it to Jensen, frankly, a little earlier — but what a terrible thing, it’s so sad to see it happen.”

Bloomberg and The New York Times also reported that Trump contacted Huang on multiple occasions, urging him to stay in his position and checking up on him after the controversy.

With Huang’s departure coming just days before the Trump-Xi meeting, a key question is whether the allegations involving the Nvidia chief could complicate the US president’s engagement with Beijing, especially at a time of tensions over semiconductor exports, artificial intelligence and technology competition.

Why is Nvidia important to US-China relations?

Nvidia and its former CEO Jensen Huang have become important figures in US-China technology relations. The company’s advanced artificial intelligence chips are at the center of a global race to develop ever more powerful artificial intelligence systems, making access to its technology a major point of contention between Washington and Beijing.

Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, has pushed Washington and Trump to ease restrictions on sales of advanced AI chips to Beijing, arguing that wider access to the technology would help the country maintain its leadership in AI development.

In December 2025, the US president authorized the sale of the H200, the chipmaker’s second most powerful AI chip, with roughly 25% of the proceeds going to the US government. Trump went ahead with this decision despite opposition from China hawks across the Republican and Democratic ranks.

Read also | The Jensen Huang scandal tests Taiwan’s devotion to its hometown hero

Huang was unexpectedly included in Trump’s delegation to Beijing in May as the administration sought to revive stalled sales of Nvidia’s H200 chips. Even after Trump approved exports, however, supplies remained tight as Chinese authorities were slow to grant import permits, ostensibly to support the growth of domestic chipmakers.

The latest controversy surrounding Huang could therefore complicate the already delicate US-China technology relationship, just days before Trump and Xi are due to meet at the APEC summit.

Will Trump Take a Tougher Line on China Amid Nvidia Scandal? What we know

According to analysts cited by Al Jazeera, Trump is unlikely to immediately change his approach to Beijing because of the controversy. Huang’s departure from Nvidia is “an impasse at best,” Singapore-based geopolitical analyst Steve Okun said in the publication, suggesting the scandal is unlikely to significantly affect relations between Washington and Beijing.

Beijing has denied the espionage allegations and accused Washington of using them as a pretext to curb China’s technological development. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said Thursday: “The US side should stop inventing such ‘spy’ stories as an excuse to impose a technology blockade.”

Read also | ‘He didn’t do anything about it’: US lawmaker accuses Trump of protecting Huang

But the controversy is increasing pressure on Trump and his administration at home, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers demanding greater scrutiny of the company’s dealings with China and the administration’s handling of semiconductor exports. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that there is growing consensus in Congress to curb semiconductor chip exports to China, adding that recent developments have strengthened the case for restrictions. Some lawmakers are also pushing for tighter controls on the sale of advanced AI chips to Beijing.

This comes after US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Department of Justice (DOJ) had not yet concluded whether Alice Huang was a Chinese spy while the FBI investigated reports that she worked for the Chinese government. Singapore also clarified that its investigation into Alice Huang was not related to espionage.

So the controversy may not immediately change Trump’s approach to Beijing, but it could intensify domestic pressure for a tougher US technology policy. With Congress and hawkish voices in the administration calling for tighter export controls, the issue could add another layer of complexity to the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting.