Silicon shuttle: Is Jensen Huang the new Tim Cook for US-China relations?
Just days after shaking hands with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Jensen Huang was on stage in Beijing in his signature leather jacket, grinning as he greeted a Chinese audience in fluent Mandarin.
On cue from a former Chinese commerce official, he struck an upbeat tone about shared futures and AI breakthroughs. Applause followed.
What he didn't say - but what everyone watching understood - was that Nvidia, the company he co-founded and now leads as CEO, had just pulled off a high-stakes diplomatic and commercial coup.
The Trump administration, in an abrupt reversal, had approved the sale of Nvidia's H20 chip to China, rescinding a ban that had threatened billions in revenue.
TL;DR: Driving the news
The Nvidia CEO secured US approval to resume sales of H20 AI chips to China, reversing a previous ban and safeguarding billions in revenue.
Huang has become a rare and effective intermediary between Washington and Beijing, using shuttle diplomacy to keep Nvidia in both markets.
The US chose to allow sales of less advanced chips to keep Chinese firms dependent on American technology, rather than ceding the market to Huawei.
Nvidia's global importance has soared, with its chips powering AI worldwide and the company now valued at over $4 trillion.
'I don't think I changed [Trump's] mind,' Huang said. 'It's my job to inform the president about what I know very well, which is the technology industry, artificial intelligence, the developments of AI around the world'.
Why it matters
Huang is fast emerging as a reluctant - and remarkably effective - emissary between Washington and Beijing. His cross-Pacific shuttle diplomacy has not only preserved Nvidia's access to a $17 billion Chinese market, but it's also made him the closest figure in today's tech world to Tim Cook's once-coveted role as corporate bridge between the world's two superpowers.
But this role comes with exponentially higher stakes.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Gold Is Surging in 2025 — Smart Traders Are Already In
IC Markets
Learn More
Undo
The H20 chip is less powerful than Nvidia's flagship models, but still valuable to Chinese AI firms desperate for access to cutting-edge silicon. When the Trump administration quietly blocked its export this spring, it was a gut punch: Nvidia stood to lose $5.5 billion in potential sales. Huang, normally averse to political trench warfare, sprang into action.
He testified before Congress, courted White House officials, and met directly with Trump.
According to the New York Times, he argued that banning Nvidia's chip would hand the market to Huawei and other Chinese rivals - undercutting US leadership in AI.
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick later echoed that logic publicly, saying the administration wanted Chinese developers 'addicted to American technology,' even if that meant letting them buy older chips. It was a stunning reversal, and one that underscored Huang's emerging role not just as a CEO, but as a geopolitical actor.
'Huang is obviously on good terms with Trump administration. Yet his chip business is one of the biggest flashpoints between Beijing and Washington,' Feng Chucheng, a founding partner at Hutong Research, told Bloomberg.
The big picture
Nvidia, now the world's most valuable company at over $4 trillion, is at the heart of a new great power race: AI dominance.
Strategic leverage: Its chips fuel generative AI systems worldwide - including those built by Chinese firms that Washington fears could be repurposed for military uses.
Tightrope walk: The US wants to stay ahead technologically by curbing China's access to the most advanced semiconductors. But it also doesn't want to push China into full self-reliance - or let Huawei monopolize the world's largest tech market.
Enter Huang: Unlike Apple, Nvidia's business isn't deeply embedded in Chinese supply chains. That gives Huang unusual room to maneuver - and to push back.
What they're saying
'He's a skillful CEO who… must navigate the China and non-China technology ecosystems,' Kurt Tong, former US consul general in Hong Kong and a partner at the Asia Group, told Bloomberg
'He makes the same argument, even where it is unpopular,' Brad Gerstner, CEO of Altimeter Capital and major Nvidia investor, told the NYT. 'Because he believes… that winning developer mind-share in China and depriving Huawei of a monopoly market is the best way for American AI to win."
'Technology leadership requires big markets,' Huang told reporters in Beijing, noting that China has 'half the world's AI researchers'
A reluctant player in a high-stakes game
Huang, 62, didn't seek out this role. He has long described himself as an engineer, not a politician. In January, while most of Silicon Valley's elite gathered in Washington for Trump's inauguration, Huang was thousands of miles away, touring Nvidia's Asia operations.
That posture - politically agnostic, business-first - worked until his company's chips became central to the US-China tech rivalry.
Now, navigating that rivalry is part of his job. Nvidia, which controls more than 90% of the market for advanced AI chips, has become a critical player not just in the global tech economy, but in national security calculus on both sides of the Pacific.
Huang's challenge is unlike any faced by his Silicon Valley peers. Apple's Tim Cook rode a decade-long boom by embedding Apple deep into China's supply chain and retail markets. Elon Musk, once treated like a rock star by Beijing, has faded from favor amid his public feuding with Trump and Tesla's slipping China performance.
Huang's approach? Strategic ambiguity. Maintain good standing with both Washington and Beijing. Say little. Smile often. Speak Mandarin when needed. Shake the right hands.
'He's obviously on good terms with the Trump administration,' Feng Chucheng, founding partner of Hutong Research, told Bloomberg. 'Yet his chip business is one of the biggest flashpoints between Beijing and Washington. It's possible the two leaders may want such a channel for messaging, but is he willing to?'
So far, Huang's actions suggest he's willing - up to a point.
Zoom in: The Cook comparison
Like Cook during the Trump and Biden years, Huang is operating in a space where national security, trade, and technology policy blur.
Cook's era: Apple's China strategy delivered stunning financial results. Between 2012–2022, its profits in Greater China more than tripled.
But by 2023: iPhones were banned in Chinese government offices, Huawei roared back, and Cook's access seemed to fade.
Now: Apple remains deeply reliant on Chinese suppliers - 4 of its top 20 - while Nvidia's top 20 suppliers include none from China.
The Economist notes: 'Mr. Huang is not Mr Cook. He may lack the Alabamian's disarming lilt, but he seems more fluent both in MAGA and in Xi Jinping Thought.'
His statements - both in the US and China - are tailored for maximum compatibility:
To Trump: 'Manufacturing in the United States wouldn't have accelerated to this pace without the president's strong encouragement.'
To Beijing: 'AI research and development must be global, collaborative, and inclusive.'
What's next
A Trump-Xi summit is widely expected later this year. Behind the scenes, the two sides are weighing broader trade-offs: easing chip controls, expanding rare earth supplies, and potentially extending US-China tech cooperation.
The US commerce separtment's move to reapprove Nvidia's H20 chip sales came just as China agreed to supply rare earth magnets to American firms. Trump officials described the maneuver as a way to get Beijing 'addicted to the American technology stack' while keeping US firms in control.
Whether intentional or not, Huang helped deliver the talking points - and the outcome.
'We can only influence them, inform them, do our best to provide them with facts,' Huang said modestly. 'And then beyond that is out of our control'.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
11 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: U.N. tech chief
The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity". But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology -- including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying -- she insisted that regulation was key. "There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach". Her comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI. Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development. Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan. Lack of AI policies or strategies "I think there are different approaches," she said. "We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the U.S. approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said. At the same time, she highlighted that "85% of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies". A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said. "But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said. Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue. "The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all". As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind -- and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind. Huge gap The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care -- but insisted the benefits must be shared. Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide. "We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out. "We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity." Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space. "We have a huge gap," she said. "We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence." The 58-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations". But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve". Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term. "There is a lot to do."
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief
Geneva: The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations ' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities. Doreen Bogdan-Martin , head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union ( ITU ) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity". But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology -- including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying -- she insisted that regulation was key. "There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach". Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI. Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development. Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan. 'Critical' "I think there are different approaches," she said. "We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said. At the same time, she highlighted that "85 percent of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies". A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said. "But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said. Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue. "The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all". As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind -- and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind. 'Huge gap' The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care -- but insisted the benefits must be shared. Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide. "We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out. "We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity." Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space. "We have a huge gap," she said. "We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence." The 58-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations". But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve". Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term. "There is a lot to do."
NDTV
15 minutes ago
- NDTV
After Trump Mediation Efforts, Thai, Cambodian Leaders Agree To Talks Over Border Dispute
Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities, a spokesperson of the Thai prime minister's office said on Sunday. This came following mediation efforts by US President Donald Trump to end the deadly border dispute. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000. Jirayu Huangsap said Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Monday's talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim "to discuss peace efforts in the region." The spokesperson also said Phumtham's Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet will also attend the talks, though this was not immediately confirmed by the Cambodian side. Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and suggested he would not move forward with trade agreements with either country if the hostilities continued. He later said both sides agreed to meet to negotiate a ceasefire. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Sunday his country agreed to pursue an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire." He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following Trump's conversation with Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. "This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries," Hun Manet said in a statement. He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailand's foreign minister to implement the ceasefire. Thailand expressed cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for "sincere intention" from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. Phumtam called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution, it said. The fighting first flared Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia. Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements. Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai army deputy spokesperson, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers. Richa said Trump's efforts to mediate was a "separate matter." The battlefield operations will continue and a ceasefire can only happen if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added. "Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law," Thailand's Foreign Ministry said separately. Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, followed by a "large-scale incursion" involving tanks and ground troops in multiple areas. "Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailand's clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict," she said. Thailand on Sunday reported a new death of a soldier, bringing the total number of fatalities to 21, mostly civilians. Cambodia said 13 people have been killed. More than 131,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations and over 37,000 people fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut. Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, said the sudden outbreak of fighting meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return home to protect his family. "I didn't have the heart to continue with my work when I heard the news. I wanted to come back as soon as possible, but I had to wait until the evening," he said. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his wife and twin daughters, hoping the conflict will end soon so they can return to their home in Kap Choeng district, one of the hardest hit by shelling. Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who moved to the same shelter Thursday with her family and pet rabbit, is counting on swift negotiations to end the violence. "I pray for God to help that both sides can agree to talk and end this war," she said. The U.N. Security Council has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the two members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by International law, in populated areas, and urged both governments to protect civilians. The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions flared in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics.
