Chinese university acquires banned Nvidia H200 chips despite US export controls

A Chinese university with ties to the People's Liberation Army purchased advanced Nvidia H200 AI chips despite U.S. export restrictions, according to Reuters on Wednesday, November 11. The acquisition highlights gaps in Washington's efforts to limit China's access to cutting-edge technology. The Northwestern Polytechnical University bought two H200 chips for 874,700 yuan ($123,000) on October 21, according to procurement records. The chips, among Nvidia's most powerful for AI training, were acquired through Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology rather than directly from Nvidia, circumventing U.S. export license requirements. The university, part of the U.S.-sanctioned "Seven Sons of National Defence" group, also secured access to H200 chips through five contracts leasing computing power from Chinese companies this year. The H200 requires U.S. export licenses typically denied to blacklisted institutions.