SEOUL/BEIJING — Beijing has forcefully dismissed a high-profile espionage controversy involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, accusing Washington of manufacturing artificial security concerns to justify strict export controls on advanced artificial intelligence technology.

The diplomatic pushback came during a press briefing on Wednesday, where Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning addressed allegations that have dominated Western media headlines over the past month. Reports originally surfaced in U.S. outlets claiming that Huang was involved with an individual suspected of intelligence ties to Beijing, allegedly facilitating both inside information leaks and the unauthorized transfer of restricted Nvidia AI hardware into mainland China.

Addressing the potential fallout—including calls from U.S. opposition lawmakers for formal congressional investigations into Nvidia's supply chain—Mao firmly rejected the narrative. She maintained that China's technological progress is driven by indigenous innovation and open international cooperation, rather than illicit acquisitions.

"Washington must cease fabricating espionage narratives to serve as political leverage for maintaining technological blockades," Mao told reporters.

Despite escalating tensions, Mao reiterated Beijing's commitment to diplomatic engagement, noting that bilateral communication channels remain open following prior agreements between national leaders. She underscored China's desire to foster a stable and constructive relationship built upon mutual respect and parity.

The controversy has been further inflamed by reports that Northwestern Polytechnical University, an institution with defense research ties, recently acquired restricted Nvidia H200 accelerators via local secondary channels. While dodging direct comments on the specific transaction, Mao criticized broader U.S. trade policies, asserting that Beijing strongly opposes the "overexpansion of national security concepts" to unfairly penalize Chinese entities.

Meanwhile, regional authorities within China's tech-heavy Zhejiang province have offered a different lens on the controversy, framing the timing of the allegations as politically motivated. Local commentary suggested that the scandal was weaponized amid U.S. domestic political cycles—specifically targeting figures previously associated with former President Donald Trump—while reflecting deeper American anxieties regarding China's rapid ascent in the global AI landscape.

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