Nvidia CEO: "The gap with China is just a few nanoseconds."

Redazione RHC:30 September 2025 20:54

On September 25, during the interview program Bg2 Pod , Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang expressed positions that fueled heated public debate. During his speech, Huang defended the Chinese economic system, praised the “996” work culture, and called the so-called “China hawks” not a title of honor, but a “mark of shame.”

Relationship between the United States and China

Huang recalled having previously convinced Donald Trump to lift the ban on the sale of Nvidia H20 chips to China, but in exchange for a 15% export tax. Today, the situation has changed: Beijing has responded to US restrictions with a ban on the sale of Nvidia chips. Commenting on the matter, the CEO stated:

“We’re in a competitive relationship with China. It’s natural that they want to grow their companies, and I have no objection.”

According to Huang, China’s strength lies in the quality of its entrepreneurs and the motivation of its workers , many of whom come from leading scientific and engineering universities.

He cited as an example the “996” model—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week —which he believes has helped train the largest number of AI engineers in the world.

Innovation and the Chinese system

Huang rejected the idea that China is incapable of producing AI chips or excelling in manufacturing. “Anyone who says they’re two or three years behind is wrong: the gap is on the order of a few nanoseconds,” he said.

He also emphasized that the Chinese economy, contrary to the common perception of strong centralization, is characterized by a competitive and decentralized system, in which the 33 provinces and municipalities compete with each other, generating dynamism and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Position on the United States and visa policy

Speaking about American technology, Huang reiterated that the United States must maximize its technology sector, which he calls a “national treasure.” He called for promoting the global diffusion of American technology to strengthen its economic and geopolitical clout.

The CEO also commented on Trump’s new H-1B visa policy, which costs $100,000 for each application. This is a non-immigrant work visa that allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers with specialized skills in fields such as science, engineering, and technology, and who hold a college degree or equivalent .

While he considered the figure high, he called it a “good start” to reducing abuses of the system by clearly distinguishing between legal and illegal immigration.

The “Chinese Hawks”

Huang said he only recently learned the term “China hawks,” often used as a symbol of patriotism. However, he reversed the concept: “It’s not a badge of honor, it’s a badge of shame.” According to the CEO, advocating extremist anti-China positions is not a patriotic act.

He also stated that the United States must act with great power confidence: “If others want to compete with us, let them come. There’s no doubt that Trump is the president who says ‘let’s do it.’”

During the interview, Huang praised Trump’s language toward China, emphasizing that the former president never spoke of ” decoupling .” “That’s a misconception: the world’s two major economies cannot separate,” he explained.

Previous pro-China statements

This isn’t the first time the Nvidia founder has spoken out in favor of China. In July 2025, during an official visit, Huang gave a speech in Chinese and praised eleven local companies for their innovations.

He also expressed his intention to buy a car made by Xiaomi , calling it a ” shame ” that it was not available in the US market, and predicted that Huawei ‘s artificial intelligence chips will eventually replace Nvidia’s.

Before the trip, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators had already urged Huang to avoid contact with Chinese companies linked to the military and intelligence community, as well as those subject to semiconductor export restrictions.