The struggle is best understood as a code war — originating in technology but extending far beyond it.
By: JIANLI YANG – Feb 3, 2026
On January 13, 2026, the United States approved exports of Nvidia’s H200 chips to China. Almost simultaneously, Chinese customs authorities informed brokers that the same chips would not be permitted to enter the country. Days earlier, Chinese officials had summoned domestic technology firms and issued a clear instruction: unless absolutely necessary, they should not purchase H200 chips.
The near-simultaneous moves by the world’s two leading AI powers produced a puzzling picture. For years, Beijing had condemned U.S. export controls on advanced chips, while Chinese companies and government actors sought Nvidia’s most advanced products through every available channel, legal or otherwise. But almost as soon as Washington loosened its restrictions, Beijing appeared to reverse course, imposing its own import constraints. Yet about two weeks ago, Chinese regulators granted in-principle approval for major tech firms to prepare orders for NVIDIA’s H200 AI chips, adding another twist to the puzzling picture.
To understand this puzzle—China’s strategy in the chip war—it helps to view Beijing’s thinking through five common Chinese expressions, phrases deeply embedded in China’s historical experience and strategic culture… [Continue Reading]
Source: https://thediplomat. https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/02/how-five-common-chinese-expressions-help-explain-beijings-conflicting-chip-signals/