Chinese University Tied to PLA Bought Nvidia H200 Chips Despite U.S. Curbs

A Chinese university with ties to the People's Liberation Army purchased advanced Nvidia AI chips despite U.S. export restrictions, according to procurement records reviewed by Reuters. Northwestern Polytechnical University bought two Nvidia H200 processors for $123,000 last month through a domestic supplier. The university also secured access to restricted Nvidia processors, including H200, A100, and A800 chips, through computing-service contracts for AI training and engineering simulations. Reuters reviewed 26 procurement records showing Chinese institutions obtaining restricted chips or renting access to computing power via local intermediaries. The findings highlight gaps in U.S. export controls, as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over his lobbying for Chinese market access. Northwestern Polytechnical has been on the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List since 2001.