There is growing momentum to pass a slate of major new export control bills targeting China, in the wake of the Democrats’ takeover of the US Congress and scrutiny over American chip giant Nvidia following CEO Jensen Huang’s admission of an extramarital affair.
US intelligence reportedly identified the woman as a Chinese spy, a claim that Beijing has rejected. Leading US politicians have been quick to jump on the news to put pressure on the White House and other lawmakers to approve three bills covering advanced semiconductor chips and chipmaking equipment.
At the centre of their demands is the inclusion of the three bills in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual defence authorisation bill.