China’s Spy Operations Show How Romance Can Become a Long Game
A Cold War-era pledge
In April 1960, Kong Yuan, a senior official in China’s Central Investigation Department, told agents in training that the country would not use seduction to entrap people. He said such methods might belong to the C.I.A. or K.G.B., while China was guided by principles.
A former Chinese diplomat later recounted the remarks in a 2010 memoir. Kong told the women in the audience they would not be asked to set beauty traps.
Allegations involving Nvidia’s chief
Her precise role, if any, with the Chinese agency is unclear. She was a senior executive at a Singapore company that runs data centers in Southeast Asia using Nvidia chips and rents computing power to Chinese firms.
Disputed claims and unanswered questions
Jensen Huang has acknowledged having an affair with Alice Huang. President Trump said Huang told him he did not know the woman was a spy. China has rejected the espionage allegations against her, describing them as smears against the country. U.S. officials have not provided evidence for their claims, and Alice Huang has not responded to requests for comment.
Key points
- U.S. officials allege China recruited Alice Huang to gather intelligence on Jensen Huang.
- Jensen Huang has acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang.
- The woman’s alleged role remains unclear, and U.S. officials have not provided evidence for their claims.
- China has rejected the espionage allegations against Alice Huang.