US secretary of state Marco Rubio had warned senior Trump administration officials about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s alleged ties to a Chinese businesswoman suspected of working for Beijing’s intelligence agency, months before the company launched an independent investigation into the matter.Rubio oversaw the drafting of a highly classified memo circulated among senior administration officials during the spring, warning that Huang had developed a close relationship with Alice Huang, whom American intelligence agencies believed had been recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security, The New York Times reported.The memo was based on intelligence gathered through electronic surveillance targeting Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen and senior executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. US officials suspected the company was involved in illegally smuggling restricted Nvidia semiconductors into mainland China.The revelations have now prompted Nvidia’s board of directors to launch an independent investigation into reports that its chief executive was targeted by a foreign intelligence operation. The company formally announced the inquiry on Sunday, saying a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside counsel, would examine all available information.The board said it had “no reason to believe” that either US national security or Nvidia’s trade secrets had been compromised. It added that Huang fully supported the review and had committed to cooperating with the investigation.In a letter to employees, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologised to his family and colleagues, saying he took “full responsibility” for his actions. He did not name Alice Huang or directly address her alleged links to Beijing.“I love our country and our company,” Huang said, adding that he was committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security.US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, praised the Nvidia chief executive when asked about the allegations. Trump said he had not spoken to Huang about the latest developments but described him as an “honourable guy” who had done an “amazing job” for the country.Asked whether he regretted not acting on intelligence briefings about the alleged espionage operation, Trump again defended Huang, saying he probably had an explanation for the situation.Huang, 63, will remain at the helm of Nvidia while the investigation is underway. The company, which has emerged as a central player in the global artificial intelligence race, is also a major focus of Washington’s efforts to restrict China’s access to advanced semiconductor technology.
