Chinese labs with ties to military seeking Nvidia’s AI chips

Seven Chinese universities with ties to the military and defense industry are attempting to acquire Nvidia’s H200 AI chips, the most advanced processors ever permitted by the U.S. for sale in China. Procurement records confirm that Beihang University and Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU), both part of China’s “Seven Sons of National Defense” elite group, are among the institutions pursuing access. Beihang University’s School of Cyber Science and Technology, which emphasizes its ‘national defense characteristics and aerospace advantages,’ is seeking to lease the H200 chips. Similarly, NWPU’s School of Cyberspace Security, which claims to carry out ‘important national cyber tasks’ and has a ‘national defense innovation team,’ is also pursuing access. Both institutions have been blacklisted by the U.S. Commerce Department for their role in advancing China’s military capabilities. The H200 chips, designed for high-performance AI tasks, were approved for sale in China under recent U.S. export rules. However, the procurement records suggest that some of the intended buyers may be entities tied to China’s defense sector, raising concerns about potential misuse. The records indicate that these institutions are seeking to rent rather than purchase the chips outright, a detail that could influence how closely their activities are monitored. The U.S. has previously restricted sales of advanced AI and semiconductor technology to China, citing national security risks. The involvement of blacklisted universities in acquiring these chips underscores ongoing tensions between technological innovation and geopolitical control. This situation highlights the challenges in enforcing export restrictions when demand exists within both civilian and military sectors.