An investigation revealed that two Chinese firms approved for Nvidia H200 chip exports, New Matrix and Maginfra, lead to empty offices with unknown receptionists. These companies are among two dozen firms authorized to purchase the GPUs after a 2025 ban reversal.
The New York Times reports these firms have ties to sanctioned entities. New Matrix founder Li Bin is linked to Wise Road and chairs Tsinghua Unigroup, while Maginfra shares personnel with blacklisted Inspur. Zhejiang Yindun Cloud also has ties to military suppliers.
These findings raise concerns about export controls as the first H200 shipments arrive in China. Former NSC director Liza Tobin notes the risks of unknown firms assembling AI servers for final users, potentially bypassing U.S. restrictions on military tech.