Asian governments respond after Jensen Huang leaves Nvidia

What has happened

Jensen Huang has left his role as Nvidia's chief executive, and governments across Asia are now responding to the news, according to TechCrunch. The reactions vary widely: some capitals are seeking reassurance about chip supplies, while others are watching how the change affects local AI projects or continuing investigations connected to the affair.

The departure follows reports that Huang was the target of an alleged Chinese intelligence operation. Nvidia's board opened an independent inquiry into the matter on Sunday, 8 November, after Huang acknowledged a relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive at the Singapore-based chip company Megaspeed.

China rejects spy allegations

China's foreign ministry rejected the allegations on 10 November, describing claims that a Chinese businesswoman linked to the former Nvidia chief was a spy as groundless and a smear against Beijing, TechCrunch reports.

On Friday, a ministry spokesperson repeated China's opposition to export controls that disrupt global supply chains. The spokesperson also said the ministry was not aware of reports connecting restricted Nvidia chips to a data centre in Shanghai associated with Alice Huang.

The leadership change has created uncertainty for Chinese AI computing projects worth more than $3 billion that depend on Nvidia processors, according to a Reuters review of procurement notices, investment plans and corporate disclosures. Many of those chips fall under United States export controls, which makes them hard for Chinese companies to buy.

Singapore's ongoing investigation

Singapore's involvement predates the current scandal. In June 2025, authorities seized Alice Huang's passport as part of an inquiry into possible false declarations about server purchases, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Police held the passport to keep her available for questioning, since she was not based in the city-state.

The investigation looked at whether servers shipped from Singapore to Malaysia were later moved to other countries without proper declaration. In February 2026, police concluded there was insufficient evidence of offences related to the suspected false declarations. However, officials said she had knowingly given inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed. She received a warning, was barred from re-entering Singapore, and had her passport returned that month.

The ministry said its investigation into Megaspeed and six other individuals continues, though it did not name them or describe their alleged roles. Singapore also said it received limited help from United States authorities despite repeated requests for information about the American server maker Supermicro.

South Korea and Taiwan seek reassurance

South Korea has particularly close ties with Nvidia. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix supply memory chips used in Nvidia's AI processors. The government's AI strategy council also held an emergency meeting on Friday to assess the possible impact on the domestic AI industry, according to local media.

In Taiwan, Economy Minister Kung Ming-shin said the departure was unlikely to change the growth of the global AI industry significantly, per local reports. Taipei's city government added that Nvidia's planned overseas headquarters in the capital remains on track. Officials said the company has met its contractual obligations so far and that they would keep supporting the project.

Japan watches closely

Japan's Industry Ministry said it would monitor Nvidia closely following the resignation, describing the company as an important player in the country's AI semiconductor industry, Reuters reported.

He stressed Japan's commitment to securing a stable supply of semiconductors.

Why it matters

Nvidia's reach extends well beyond the United States. The company has built close relationships with partners worldwide, and many of its most important ones are in Asia, where they hold significant roles in the global AI industry.

The range of responses shows how much is at stake. Governments that depend on Nvidia hardware for national AI plans are seeking firm commitments, while investigators in Singapore continue work that predates the scandal. Until Nvidia's independent inquiry concludes and a successor's direction becomes clear, the uncertainty over supply commitments and multi-billion-dollar projects is likely to persist.