Taipei, 22 August 2025 – Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang made a brief stop in Taipei on Friday to meet with leaders of chipmaking partner TSMC, as the US semiconductor giant finds itself at the centre of intensifying US-China frictions over access to advanced artificial intelligence processors.
Huang, who arrived by private jet at Taipei’s Songshan airport, told reporters his main purpose was to visit TSMC and share dinner with its executives before departing the same evening. TSMC, the world’s leading contract chip manufacturer, did not immediately comment on the visit.
The trip comes as Washington weighs the possibility of allowing China access to more powerful Nvidia chips. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signalled openness to approving advanced models beyond the restricted H20, which has been the main AI chip permitted for sale in China under US export rules.
According to Reuters, Nvidia is developing a new processor known internally as the B30A, based on its cutting-edge Blackwell architecture. The chip would surpass the H20 in performance but remains subject to US government approval before it can be exported. Asked about the new product, Huang confirmed that Nvidia is in discussions with Washington over a potential successor to the H20 but stressed that the decision lies entirely with regulators. “It’s up to the US government, and we are in dialogue with them, but it is too soon to know,” he said.
Nvidia’s efforts to hold its ground in China have been complicated by political headwinds. Chinese state media has accused the company’s chips of posing national security risks, and authorities recently summoned domestic technology firms over concerns related to the purchase of the H20. Despite the scrutiny, Huang defended the product, saying shipments of the H20 to China should not be considered a security issue and that Beijing’s continued ability to receive the chips was “very much appreciated.”
Nvidia’s balancing act between Washington’s export controls and Beijing’s demand for high-performance processors underscores the delicate position US tech firms occupy in the global semiconductor supply chain. Huang’s fleeting visit to TSMC—Nvidia’s most critical manufacturing partner—highlights how Taiwan remains central to the company’s strategy as it navigates an uncertain geopolitical and regulatory landscape.
