Taiwan: Nine accused of exporting advanced AI servers to China, including an Nvidia employee
Taiwanese authorities have indicted nine individuals, including an Nvidia employee, for bypassing export controls. Prosecutors allege that 74 servers containing restricted B300 processors were smuggled into China via Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong.
The prosecution in Taiwan filed indictments against nine individuals, including an Nvidia employee and two former Super Micro employees, on suspicion of illegally exporting advanced artificial intelligence servers to China. This development adds to the ongoing tensions in the global race for AI supremacy between the United States and China.
AI infrastructure, which relies on advanced semiconductors largely manufactured in Taiwan, has become a focal point of US-China competition. Washington began imposing restrictions on the export of Nvidia’s high-end chips to China in 2022, tightening them in subsequent years. In April 2025, the US mandated export licenses for Nvidia’s H20 chips before allowing the resumption of limited sales later that year.
According to documents from the Keelung District Prosecutors Office, any sale of advanced AI servers by Nvidia requires a rigorous review process. The regulations stipulate that the purchase of more than eight such servers necessitates physical inspections by company employees at customer sites.
Prosecutors stated that the servers at the center of the case contain graphics processing units (GPUs) known as B300, the sale of which to China is prohibited.
"We will work with the authorities in Taiwan to help them resolve the allegations as quickly as possible," said Nvidia spokesperson Patrick Rutherford in a written statement.
Super Micro stated that the arrest of its two former employees was facilitated by its cooperation with Taiwanese authorities, adding that the company remains committed to "strengthening its robust export compliance program to protect American innovation."
According to prosecutors, 74 servers successfully reached China. Of these, 50 were routed through Indonesia, 16 were sent directly, and eight were shipped via Japan and Hong Kong. Another attempt involving 56 servers failed, and the equipment remained in Taiwan.
Prosecutors are seeking the maximum penalty of five years in prison for four of the nine defendants, including an Nvidia manager identified by the surname Chang. The indictment describes Chang as the "central figure" responsible for approving the release of the B300 processors, noting that he "demonstrated a clearly poor attitude after committing the offense."
Investigators revealed that some defendants established a company in Japan to facilitate the transfers, while others allegedly created fake websites and falsified information to circumvent export controls.
