Last week, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, told the BG2 podcast that the term “China Hawks,” often applied to those seeking tougher policies toward Communist China, is a “badge of shame.” He added that these Americans are not “patriotic.”

Almost always, Huang is right. After all, he created arguably the world’s most important company. The graphics processing units, GPUs, that Nvidia designs are at the core of the Artificial Intelligence Revolution. In this instance, however, Huang is wrong. Badly wrong.

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China is the preeminent adversary of the United States and probably more accurately described as an enemy. After all, China is attempting to push the U.S. out of the Western Pacific. The government under the supreme leader of China, Xi Jinping, has goals for the country to dominate global manufacturing and to be superior to the U.S. in advanced technology, including AI. It is a fact that China engages in vast levels of industrial espionage against the U.S.. It is a fact that China harasses American allies and supports Russia’s war on Ukraine. It is a fact that China helps vast amounts of Fentanyl flood American streets. This is not the behavior of a friendly nation.

China Hawks should be proud that they stand up for American interests.

Still, Huang says, this has more to do with business than politics. Nvidia has over 90% market share of the GPUs embedded in the servers that populate the world’s AI data centers. Huang argues that by selling China its chips and software, U.S. technology will proliferate and maximize “America’s political, economic, and technological” advantages. But China Hawks disagree with him. They want to deny China access to Nvidia’s most advanced chips and the technology. They fear that China will use that technology to bolster its military before a conflict with the U.S., and thus that many American service personnel and perhaps even a war itself will be lost on the back of this technology.

China currently trails the U.S. in accelerated computing technology. China relies on 7-nanometer fabrication technology, whereas Nvidia’s GPU chips are fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Company, the world’s preeminent manufacturer of semiconductors. This year, TSMC manufactures Nvidia’s most advanced chips with 2-nanometer technology. Smaller is better. TSMC’s 2-nanometer technology is more energy efficient and enables faster chip connection speeds. In the world of artificial intelligence, speed is a critical advantage. And with China a generation behind in fabrication technology, China Hawks believe that denying China access to Nvidia’s technology will better secure America.

This doesn’t mean Huang’s concerns about bolstering business in China are unjustified. China’s leading technology company, Huawei, is trying to double production of artificial intelligence semiconductors. Huawei relies on brute force and is unconcerned about energy consumption and inefficiencies. China wants to beat the U.S., and it doesn’t care how. Huang believes that if he can sell Nvidia’s faster, more energy-efficient AI chips to China, then China will become increasingly dependent on U.S. technological AI superiority.

Still, Huang should avoid political controversy. His comment about China Hawks being a badge of shame damages Nvidia’s goodwill. As with any other American citizen, but especially for one so influential and powerful, Huang’s first duties are to the nation and the Constitution. While some sales to China are necessary for his company, Huang should recognize that some sales should be restricted to protect U.S. national security.

The writer owns shares in Nvidia. 

James Rogan is a former U.S. foreign service officer who has worked in finance and law for 30 years. He writes a daily note on the markets, politics, and society. He can be followed on X and reached at [email protected].