Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has joined the advisory board of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management, a move that highlights his continued engagement with China despite growing geopolitical and trade tensions. Tsinghua University, regarded as one of China’s top academic institutions and an alma mater of President Xi Jinping, maintains strong connections to both Chinese political leadership and global industries.
The advisory board of Tsinghua’s business school counts major figures from the US tech and financial sectors, including Tim Cook, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Satya Nadella, and JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. Huang’s appointment places him alongside these influential leaders, underscoring the university’s effort to cultivate ties with prominent international executives.
Huang’s role has sparked criticism from some US political figures. Laura Loomer, a known ally of former President Trump, labeled his involvement as a national security concern, citing Tsinghua’s significance in China’s Communist Party leadership and its status as a center for advanced defense and dual-use technology research. Senator Jim Banks announced plans to investigate Huang’s new position further.
Despite restrictions on the sale of Nvidia’s most advanced chips to China, the company has advocated for looser export rules and continues to view the Chinese market as critical. While the Trump administration eased some controls on less powerful chip sales earlier this year, Beijing has yet to approve these transactions, focusing instead on developing its own semiconductor industry.
Huang has emphasized Nvidia’s longstanding presence in China, noting the company’s extensive network of customers and partners there over three decades. His participation on Tsinghua’s advisory board reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen business ties in a challenging environment shaped by US-China trade policies and technological competition.