A Chinese state-run newspaper on Monday hit back at American media outlets, accusing them of manufacturing a spy narrative surrounding Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang's admitted extramarital affair. The official outlet argued that whenever bilateral ties between the United States and China show signs of recovery, opposing interests inevitably emerge to disrupt progress.
In a message released to company employees on Sunday, the Nvidia chief acknowledged having an affair and issued an apology to his family and staff. Following the admission, Nvidia's board announced it had launched an internal investigation into the matter, amid reports that US officials believe the woman involved was working for Chinese intelligence.
The Global Times firmly dismissed any suggestion that Beijing was tied to the tech billionaire's personal conduct, with China's foreign ministry rejecting the claims as completely baseless. During a regular briefing, foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that the narrative regarding a so-called Chinese spy is entirely groundless vilification and smearing.
The Chinese newspaper argued that US media coverage extended far beyond standard gossip by seizing upon a mix of a high-profile corporate figure, a personal infidelity, and an alleged foreign spy to launch a media frenzy. According to the commentary, the narrative stems largely from a speculative report published by The New York Times claiming the woman was a Chinese spy.
The Global Times further asserted that these claims were pieced together merely from images of a woman with Asian features, Nvidia's previous corporate efforts to navigate trade restrictions with China, and anonymous tips. The commentary drew parallels to past diplomatic friction, suggesting that similar situations repeatedly occur whenever US-China relations begin to improve and hidden actors work to undermine ties.
Warning that an anti-China script could disrupt normal technological and commercial exchanges while damaging mutual interests, the commentary maintained that the situation fundamentally remains an internal corporate and personal matter for the US executive.