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China has eased pressure on Google while tightening scrutiny of Nvidia, a move analysts say highlights Beijing’s selective approach to US tech firms ahead of a scheduled call between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping on Friday.
According to the Financial Times, Beijing has decided to drop a long-running antitrust probe into Google. The case, which centred on claims that Google abused its dominance in mobile services, had been viewed as part of China’s broader effort to counter US influence in the technology sector. The decision to shelve it is seen by some as an olive branch.
But while Google appears to have been spared, chip giant Nvidia is facing sharper pressure. As Reuters reported, Chinese regulators are increasing demands on the company to curb the capabilities of its advanced processors being sold in the Chinese market, citing concerns over security and data control.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who visited Beijing earlier this week has become entangled in what was interpreted as “the larger agendas of Washington and Beijing.” The company’s graphics processing units (GPUs) are crucial for artificial intelligence, making it a focal point of US-China tensions over emerging technologies.
“The Chinese government is sending a nuanced message,” a Beijing-based trade analyst told the Financial Times. “It wants to appear pragmatic, but it is not going to compromise on what it sees as core national security issues.”
For Trump, the timing is crucial. His upcoming call with Xi will be the first since announcing his re-election bid and trade frictions, technology access and military manoeuvres in the South China Sea are all expected to dominate the discussion.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe diverging treatment of Google and Nvidia highlights Beijing’s balancing act: demonstrating restraint in some areas while signalling toughness in others. Analysts say this dual approach keeps Washington uncertain over China’s real negotiating posture.
As Reuters reported, Nvidia embodies the contradictions of the current tech cold war — “indispensable to both sides, but vulnerable to political currents beyond their control.”
With Trump and Xi preparing to speak, Beijing’s calculated moves suggest that China is positioning itself carefully: easing off in digital services while hardening its line in strategic technologies. Whether Washington interprets that as a concession or a provocation remains to be seen.