China
Standards: The New Battleground in US-China AI Competition
US President Trump’s decision to allow Nvidia H200 chip exports to China has prompted Beijing to limit domestic access, aiming to establish China’s own AI standards and reduce reliance on US technology.
Trump’s Policy Shift on AI Chips
On December 8, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Nvidia could export its advanced H200 chips to select Chinese customers. Surprisingly, this led China to limit domestic access to these chips. This reaction underscores China’s strategic focus on establishing its own AI standards rather than simply acquiring leading technologies. By restricting imports, China aims to promote its ecosystem centered around Huawei’s Ascend chips and CANN software, aspiring to compete with U.S. technology and lessen reliance on Nvidia’s CUDA platform.
Rethinking AI Development
China’s counterintuitive decision to restrict access to advanced hardware arises from its desire to influence global AI development guidelines. Although China’s chip design capability lags behind, the country recognizes the importance of controlling the frameworks that shape AI innovation. Scholars emphasize that understanding hegemonic power in the technology sphere necessitates an emphasis on the ability to establish and disseminate technical standards globally.
The Role of Standards in Global AI
Nvidia showcases how control over standards is critical for competitive advantage. Its CUDA platform has become the de facto standard for AI development, functioning like an essential operating system. If Chinese developers were given unrestricted access to Nvidia’s chips, they would likely build future AI models on CUDA, further entrenching their dependence on a U.S.-led framework. By limiting access now, China seeks to foster self-reliance and develop alternative standards in AI technology.
Source : Standards are the new frontier in US–China AI competition
