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Beijing weighs H200 imports amid uncertainty for China tech giants

More than 400,000 H200 chips reportedly approved for ByteDance, Alibaba and Tencent as China balances AI needs with tech self-reliance push

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The first batch of Nvidia chip shipments is expected to go to China’s Big Tech companies. Photo: Shutterstock
Ann Caoin Shanghai,Coco Fengin GuangdongandWency Chenin Shanghai

Beijing has begun approving imports of Nvidia’s H200 graphics processing units (GPUs), according to two sources familiar with the matter, ending regulatory uncertainty over the US tech giant’s second most powerful artificial intelligence chip.

The first batch was expected to go to Big Tech companies, which were in urgent need of the GPU, a source said. However, access for state-backed companies, such as telecommunication network operators, was expected to remain under tight control, the source added.

The approval covered more than 400,000 units for ByteDance, Alibaba Group Holding and Tencent Holdings, while other firms awaited further approvals, according to Reuters, which first reported the news on Wednesday. Alibaba owns the Post.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang disputed the information, saying that China has yet to make a final decision on whether it would allow companies to purchase the chips.

“I believe the Chinese government is still deciding, we have not received purchase orders,” he told journalists upon arrival in Taiwan on Thursday.

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The move follows Beijing’s temporary hold on H200 shipments earlier this month after Washington cleared exports. It reflects Beijing’s effort to balance between demand for top-performance AI chips and its quest for tech self-sufficiency.
Imports of the H200 reflected a “balanced outcome”, said Randy Abrams, head of Taiwan research at UBS Group. Unlimited access to Nvidia’s advanced chips could hinder the growth of China’s domestic industry, making some form of framework necessary for regulators to limit adoption percentage and manage demand, he added.
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