Business · Companies · 5 hrs ago
Chinese university on US blacklist bought Nvidia H200 AI chips
A Chinese university with military ties bought two Nvidia H200 chips last month, according to a procurement record.
Northwestern Polytechnical University, in Xi’an, paid 874,700 yuan, or about $123,000, through a Chinese supplier.
The H200 is one of Nvidia’s most powerful chips for developing and running advanced AI systems.
The university has been on the US trade blacklist since 2001 because of alleged missile-proliferation activities and military research.
US rules generally deny export licences for controlled technology to listed institutions, but Chinese suppliers can provide chips or access to computing systems that use them.
The purchases raise concern because advanced AI chips could support military research, including weapons design and intelligence analysis.
The university also rented access to H200s and other Nvidia processors through five contracts this year.
US lawmakers are pressing for stronger controls, and three Republican committee chairmen have requested a briefing with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on November 18.
Northwestern Polytechnical University, which is on a US export blacklist, bought two Nvidia H200 AI chips last month, procurement records show.
The university paid 874,700 yuan, or about $123,000, for the chips, which were purchased for its management school.
The H200 is among Nvidia’s most capable chips for training and running advanced AI systems and requires US export licence approval.
The university also obtained access to H200 chips and other Nvidia processors through contracts for rented computing capacity, records show.
The purchases highlight how Chinese institutions with military ties can obtain US AI computing power through domestic suppliers.
- Who
- Northwestern Polytechnical University bought the chips.
- What
- It bought two Nvidia H200 chips and also obtained access to Nvidia chips through computing-capacity contracts.
- When
- Last month, according to the article published on November 11, 2026. The procurement record is dated October 21.
- Where
- The purchase was made in China. The university is based in Xi’an.
- Why
- The sources do not state the university’s reason for buying the chips.
Jensen Huang and supporters of US chip sales to China
US lawmakers seeking tighter controls
US sales to China
Jensen Huang and supporters of US chip sales to China
Huang has argued that continued sales would preserve American technological leadership and keep Chinese customers reliant on US technology.
US lawmakers seeking tighter controls
Some lawmakers say access to Nvidia’s most powerful AI chips could accelerate China’s development of AI systems for weapons design, intelligence analysis and military modernisation.
Export controls
Jensen Huang and supporters of US chip sales to China
Huang has lobbied for looser restrictions on chip sales to China.
US lawmakers seeking tighter controls
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have urged stronger controls, including chip-tracking requirements and greater congressional oversight.
The US Commerce Department added Northwestern Polytechnical University to its Entity List over alleged missile-proliferation activities and military research.
The US tightened restrictions on exports of controlled technology to the university, making licences subject to denial in most circumstances.
The Trump administration began allowing some H200 exports to China on a case-by-case basis, while restrictions on Entity List organisations remained.
A procurement record on the university’s website showed its management school had bought two H200 chips.
The university bought the two H200 chips for 874,700 yuan, according to procurement records.
- University
- Northwestern Polytechnical University
- Chips purchased
- Two Nvidia H200 processors
- Purchase price
- 874,700 yuan, or $123,000
- Procurement record
- October 21
- US blacklist
- Added to the Entity List in 2001; restrictions tightened in 2019