Nvidia’s Jensen Huang Planning Trip to China Ahead of Lunar New Year

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is set to travel to China soon, aiming to expand access to AI processors in the country as the Lunar New Year approaches.

Bloomberg reports that Huang is focused on re-establishing Nvidia’s foothold in a crucial market for AI chips during a tense period marked by geopolitical strains between the U.S. and China. Recently, the Trump administration greenlit constrained sales of certain AI chips to China.

A company official mentioned Huang will attend a company event celebrating the upcoming Lunar New Year. His agenda includes a visit to Beijing, although it’s uncertain if he’ll meet any Chinese government representatives. There’s a possibility that his plans might shift depending on whether discussions are confirmed.

This trip has become somewhat of a tradition for Huang, who typically visits China around this time. However, the circumstances are especially significant given the recent changes in U.S.-China relations concerning advanced semiconductor technology. The U.S. government has loosened export rules for AI processors, enabling Nvidia to sell its H200 model to China. Meanwhile, Chinese officials are determining the volume of these chips that can enter the country.

As the largest semiconductor market globally, China is actively nurturing its local chip industry to lessen reliance on American technology. Yet, despite these efforts, domestic manufacturers in China still struggle to compete with Nvidia’s processors, vital for AI development. The H200 model, albeit a generation behind its U.S. counterparts, remains superior to many Chinese alternatives.

However, the Chinese government plans to restrict the usage of the H200 chip within military operations, key government sectors, critical infrastructure, and state-owned enterprises due to security concerns. This strategy recalls previous limitations on foreign tech products like Apple devices and Micron Technology chips.

During Huang’s last visit to China in July, he managed to engage with Vice Premier He Lifeng and Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. Notably, in January 2025, Nvidia opted out of attending U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, instead choosing to celebrate the Lunar New Year with team members in China. This Wednesday, Huang is also scheduled to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he will have an interview with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

Recently, there have been voices of dissent regarding Nvidia’s potential chip sales to China. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei harshly criticized this move, likening it to the act of supplying nuclear weapons to North Korea.

Amodei voiced strong disapproval of recent U.S. policy changes during the World Economic Forum in Davos, warning that allowing advanced AI chip sales to China could have serious national security ramifications. He stated in an interview that selling these chips is a grievous error, suggesting, “Shipping these chips is a big mistake. I think this is crazy. It’s like selling nuclear weapons to North Korea.”