Hard-Liner Jim Jordan Elected House Republican Leader; Will China Chip Curbs Tighten? (Roundup)

Rep. Jordan, Driving Force Behind the "Coupang Report"
U.S. Democrats and Republicans Move to Restrict Exports of Advanced AI Semiconductors to China

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U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), known as a foreign-policy hawk, has been elected the next House Republican leader. As calls for tougher restrictions on semiconductor exports to China are already growing amid the scandal involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Jordan, who is regarded as a China hawk, has become the new face of the Republican Party. With Democrats and Republicans in Congress beginning to compete to impose semiconductor export controls on China, diplomatic relations between the two countries are expected to become even more strained.

Hardliner Behind Coupang Report Takes the Helm of GOP, Opposing Trump's China Policy

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According to the Associated Press, Republicans elected Jordan as their next House leader at a closed-door meeting on Nov. 10, local time, with 106 votes in favor and 73 opposed. He will lead the party starting Jan. 3, 2027, when the new congressional session begins.

Jordan, the new House Republican leader, is a co-founder and the first chair of the Freedom Caucus, a hardline conservative group within the Republican Party. He has advocated a tough stance on foreign policy overall, including policy toward China. In July, he was identified as the driving force behind the so-called "Coupang report," which alleged that the South Korean government had discriminated against the U.S. company. The report included Coupang's one-sided claims that the South Korean government was pro-China without qualification, sparking controversy in South Korea.

Jordan's election as House Republican leader is expected to give greater weight to calls from party hardliners to tighten semiconductor export controls on China. Trump's standing has weakened following the midterm election defeat, and the scandal involving Huang has further intensified opposition to the Trump Administration's policy of easing semiconductor export controls on China.

According to Politico, the chairs of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Intelligence Committee and the House Select Committee on China, all led by Republicans, have asked Huang to attend a closed-door briefing on Nov. 18. They want to establish how Huang became involved with a woman suspected of having ties to Chinese intelligence agencies and to examine Nvidia's security measures. Separately, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie said an investigation by the appropriate authorities was necessary, while Senator John Cornyn also called for a wide-ranging investigation into Huang and for Congress to play a role.

Republican China hawks are using the scandal to strengthen their calls to restrict exports of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. Politico wrote that "these moves are giving China hawks in the Republican Party a new opportunity to clash with President Trump over China, following the Democrats' victory in the midterm elections."

Huang's scandal is fueling anti-China sentiment in U.S. political circles. Critics have spoken out after reports that Alice Huang, Huang's affair partner, whose Chinese name is Huang Le, used her relationship with Huang to supply semiconductors worth at least $7.5 billion (about 10 trillion won) to Chinese companies.

U.S. Congress Moves to Restrict Exports of Advanced AI Chips to China

Reuters-Yonhap News

Across party lines, momentum is growing in Congress to restrict exports of advanced AI chips to China. One proposal would add restrictions on semiconductor exports to China to the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Nov. 10 that the NDAA currently under discussion in the Senate includes provisions to restrict semiconductor supplies to China, adding, "I strongly support them." He also stressed that he would work to ensure the relevant provisions are included in the final bill.

One of the key bills that could be included in the NDAA is the AI Overwatch Act, which would allow Congress to review export license applications for advanced AI chips destined for countries of concern, including China. Also under discussion are a bill to track the end users of advanced semiconductors exported overseas and prevent smuggling and diversion, and a bill to tighten restrictions on sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China.

Republican Senator Jim Banks and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren have also urged lawmakers to advance related legislation in the wake of Huang's scandal. In a joint statement, they said Huang's acknowledgment of a relationship with a person suspected of being a Chinese spy made national security concerns all the more urgent. They emphasized that important questions had been raised that Nvidia must answer, particularly about the extent to which the activities in question were connected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.