Nvidia's Jensen Huang Departs Amid Espionage Allegations

Jensen Huang's departure from Nvidia has sent shockwaves across Asia, prompting governments to weigh in on the situation.

Some Asian governments have moved quickly to reassure markets and confirm their commitment to providing chip supplies, while others are closely monitoring the impact on ongoing projects and investigations.

An independent investigation was launched by Nvidia's board last Sunday after reports emerged that Huang had been targeted by a Chinese intelligence operation. Huang himself has acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed.

The significance of Huang's departure cannot be overstated, given Nvidia's extensive global reach and ties to top companies in Asia. The region is home to many key partners crucial to the development of artificial intelligence.

China's foreign ministry has vehemently denied allegations that a Chinese businesswoman linked to Jensen Huang was involved in espionage activities. On November 10, the ministry dismissed these claims as baseless and an attempt to smear Beijing's reputation.

The investigation into Megaspeed and its former CEO Alice Huang has been ongoing for some time now. In June 2025, Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs took a significant step by seizing her passport as part of an inquiry into possible false declarations regarding server purchases.

According to the ministry, the police seized her passport to ensure she remained available for questioning since she was not based in Singapore at the time. The investigation centered on whether servers shipped from Singapore to Malaysia were later sent to other countries without proper declaration, which would be a serious infraction.

After examining the evidence, police found insufficient grounds to establish that Alice Huang had committed offenses related to suspected false declarations by February 2026. However, authorities did find that she knowingly provided inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed, which led to a warning and restrictions on her re-entry into Singapore.

As part of their investigation, the Singapore government sought assistance from U.S. authorities regarding server maker Supermicro but received limited cooperation despite repeated requests for information. The ministry has stated that its inquiry into Megaspeed and six other individuals remains ongoing, although it did not provide details about the identities or alleged roles of these individuals.

South Korea's close ties to Nvidia have been a significant factor in the country's growing AI industry. Major chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix play crucial roles in supplying memory chips used in Nvidia's AI processors, making them key partners for the company.

Following Jensen Huang's departure as Nvidia CEO, South Korea's Science Ministry confirmed that Nvidia had reaffirmed its commitment to supply 260,000 advanced GPUs to the country and continue joint AI projects. An emergency meeting was also held by the government's AI strategy council on Friday to assess the potential impact of Huang's exit on the country's AI industry.

Taiwan's Economy Minister Kung Ming-shin downplayed the significance of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's departure on the global AI industry's growth prospects.

The minister's remarks came as Taipei's city government confirmed that Nvidia's planned overseas headquarters in the city remains on track despite the leadership change. The company has fulfilled all contractual obligations so far, and officials have pledged to continue supporting the project.

In Japan, the Industry Ministry is keeping a close eye on Nvidia following Huang's resignation, describing the chipmaker as a crucial player in Japan's AI semiconductor industry. According to Reuters, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said it's premature to assess the impact of Huang's departure on the global AI industry.

Japan's commitment to ensuring a stable supply of semiconductors remains unwavering, with officials emphasizing the importance of this goal. The government will closely monitor Nvidia's developments as they unfold.

Nvidia's planned expansion in Taipei continues unabated, with city officials affirming their support for the project.

The Nvidia CEO's exit has sparked a mixed reaction from Asian governments, which had previously expressed support for the company's expansion plans in Taipei.

City officials have reaffirmed their backing for the project, while others are calling for a thorough review of the company's operations and leadership. The controversy surrounding Jensen Huang's departure is likely to impact investor confidence and public perception of Nvidia's business practices. As a result, the company's future growth prospects in Taiwan remain uncertain.