Washington, Nov 11: China AI chip curbs are gaining bipartisan support in the US Congress as senior lawmakers push for tighter restrictions on advanced American artificial intelligence chips exported to China.
Lawmakers have raised national security concerns following allegations involving Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and a suspected Chinese intelligence operation.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday (local time) urged Congress to quickly pass three bipartisan bills aimed at restricting China’s access to American technology. His appeal followed a joint statement by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senator Jim Banks, who also called for stronger export controls.
US lawmakers seek stricter AI chip export controls
The renewed push comes as Congress considers adding restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology to its annual defence policy legislation.
Schumer called for the passage of three bills: the AI OVERWATCH Act, the MATCH Act and the Chip Security Act. He argued that Washington must prevent sensitive American technology from reaching potential adversaries.
He also demanded an immediate briefing for the Senate and House intelligence committees. The briefing, he said, should cover alleged Chinese efforts to obtain information from Nvidia and other American AI companies.
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“We need a full accounting for Trump’s failure to address foreign espionage in the American tech industry,” Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor.
Schumer also accused President Donald Trump of failing to adequately address intelligence concerns.
Warren and Banks raise concerns over Nvidia chip exports
Warren and Banks, who both serve on the Senate Banking Committee, said they had urged the Commerce Department in March to reconsider Nvidia’s export licences to China.
They also called for a comprehensive national security review.
The senators alleged that Nvidia later received approval to export hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips to China. They said some recipient companies reportedly had links to the Chinese military.
According to the lawmakers, these allegations highlight the need for stronger safeguards against the potential military use of American technology.
“The Commerce Department should complement these efforts with immediate action to close export control loopholes,” Warren and Banks said in their joint statement.
Nvidia investigates alleged Chinese intelligence operation
The senators’ appeal followed reports that a suspected Chinese intelligence operation had targeted Huang through a personal relationship.
Nvidia’s board announced an independent investigation on November 8 to determine whether foreign intelligence activity had targeted its chief executive.
The company said a committee of independent directors would oversee the investigation with assistance from outside legal counsel.
China rejected the allegations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called the accusations groundless and described them as an attempt to smear Beijing.
Meanwhile, Trump publicly defended Huang. The US President said the Nvidia chief had told him that he did not know the woman involved was suspected of espionage. Trump added that he believed Huang’s explanation.
The allegations remain under investigation. No finding has established that Huang knowingly assisted Chinese intelligence or that anyone compromised company secrets.
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–IANS
