Nvidia Corp. and its founder Jensen Huang are facing backlash from Chinese citizens and a mainland media outlet after Huang referred to Taiwan as a “country” during a visit to the island. This led to calls for a boycott of the company. Huang, who was born in Taiwan but moved to the United States as a child, made the controversial statement during an interview on a Taiwanese television channel, praising the island’s importance in the electronics industry.
The nationalist outlet Guancha.cn criticized Huang for his comments, stating that Nvidia’s support for Taiwan’s independence could harm its business in mainland China. This criticism sparked a trend on social media platform Weibo, with some netizens supporting a boycott of Nvidia products. However, others expressed concerns about the impact of such a boycott, as China remains a significant market for Nvidia.
The tension between China and the United States has put Nvidia in a difficult position, with the US government imposing restrictions on chip exports to China. This has affected Nvidia’s ability to provide graphics processing units to Chinese customers. Despite these challenges, Huang visited mainland China earlier this year in an attempt to maintain relations with the company’s staff and clients in the country.
Overall, the controversy surrounding Huang’s comments highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics that Nvidia faces amidst the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The company’s involvement in both markets has put it at the center of tensions between the two superpowers, with implications for its business operations and reputation. Huang’s remarks have reignited discussions about Taiwan’s status and the sensitive nature of cross-strait relations, underscoring the challenges that companies like Nvidia face in navigating international politics.
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https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3265776/backlash-mainland-china-calls-nvidias-jensen-huang-clarify-taiwan-comment