Northwestern Polytechnical University, a key member of China’s elite “Seven Sons of National Defense” group, has purchased two Nvidia H200 AI chips last month, according to a procurement record posted on the university’s website on October 21. The chips were bought for the university’s management school from Shaanxi Bosuan Network Technology for 874,700 yuan (about $123,000).
These H200 chips are among Nvidia’s most powerful processors for training and running advanced artificial‑intelligence systems. Because the university is listed on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Entity List, export licences for such technology are normally denied. The purchase therefore raises questions about how U.S.‑controlled technology can still reach Chinese institutions with strong military ties.
In addition to the direct purchase, Northwestern Polytechnical has secured access to H200 chips and other high‑performance Nvidia processors through five contracts for rented computing capacity from domestic Chinese companies. The university’s procurement records show that it has been acquiring U.S.‑restricted AI hardware and services through local suppliers, a pattern that has been identified in a Reuters review of 26 Chinese procurement and corporate records from this year.
Northwestern Polytechnical, located in Xi’an, conducts research on military aircraft, missiles and satellites. The institution was added to the Entity List in 2001 over alleged involvement in missile‑proliferation activities, and the list was tightened in 2019 to deny licences for exporting controlled U.S. technology to the university in most circumstances.
U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern that access to Nvidia’s most powerful AI chips could accelerate China’s development of AI systems for weapons design, intelligence analysis and broader military modernization. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has defended continued sales to China, arguing that it preserves U.S. technological leadership and keeps Chinese customers dependent on U.S. technology. However, the recent purchase by a blacklisted university underscores the challenges of enforcing export controls.
Source: Al Jazeera
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