Nvidia Reaffirms 260,000-GPU Supply to South Korea After Huang Exit

Nvidia has reaffirmed its plan to supply 260,000 advanced GPUs to South Korea following the abrupt departure of CEO Jensen Huang, whose exit has now triggered responses from governments across Asia ranging from supply confirmations to active investigations.

Nvidia's board launched an independent investigation on Sunday, November 8, after reports that Huang was targeted by a Chinese spy operation. Huang admitted to an affair with Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based chip company Megaspeed. The fallout now touches at least five Asian governments and more than $3 billion in Chinese AI computing projects.

How is China responding?

China's foreign ministry rejected the espionage allegations on November 10, calling them groundless and a smear against Beijing. A spokesperson said on Friday that the ministry was not aware of reports linking restricted Nvidia chips to a Shanghai data center associated with Alice Huang.

The diplomatic exchange carries commercial weight. Huang's exit has raised uncertainty over more than $3 billion in Chinese AI computing projects that rely on Nvidia's restricted processors, according to a Reuters review of procurement notices, investment plans and corporate disclosures. Many of those chips fall under U.S. export controls, which already make them difficult for Chinese companies to obtain. The spokesperson reiterated China's opposition to export controls that disrupt global supply chains.

What happened in Singapore?

Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs has provided the most detailed account of the case. Authorities seized Alice Huang's passport in June 2025 as part of an investigation into possible false declarations regarding server purchases. Police took the passport, the ministry said, to ensure she remained available for questioning because she was not based in Singapore.

The investigation examined whether servers shipped from Singapore to Malaysia were later sent to other countries without proper declaration. In February 2026, police found insufficient evidence that Alice Huang had committed offenses tied to the suspected false declarations. Authorities did, however, determine she had knowingly provided inaccurate information about her role at Megaspeed. She received a warning, was barred from re-entering Singapore, and had her passport returned that month.

Singapore also disclosed a friction point with Washington: it received only limited assistance from U.S. authorities despite repeated requests for information about American server maker Supermicro. The investigation into Megaspeed and six other individuals remains ongoing, and the ministry did not identify those individuals or their alleged roles.

What does the change mean for South Korea and Taiwan?

South Korea moved quickly to lock down commitments. The Science Ministry said Nvidia had reaffirmed the 260,000-GPU supply plan and would continue joint AI projects. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix supply memory chips used in Nvidia's AI processors, giving Seoul a direct stake in the company's stability. The government's AI strategy council held an emergency meeting on Friday to assess the potential impact of Huang's departure, according to a local media report.

Taiwan struck a calmer tone. Economy Minister Kung Ming-shin said the departure was unlikely to significantly change global AI industry growth, local media reported. Taipei's city government confirmed Nvidia's planned overseas headquarters in the city remains on track, noting the company has met its contractual obligations so far and that officials would continue to support the project.

Where does Japan stand?

Japan's Industry Ministry said it will closely monitor Nvidia following the resignation, describing the chipmaker as an important player in Japan's AI semiconductor industry, Reuters reported. Deputy chief cabinet secretary Masanao Ozaki said it was too early to assess the impact on the global AI industry, while stressing Japan's commitment to ensuring a stable supply of semiconductors.

The pattern across the region is clear: governments with direct supply relationships are seeking confirmations, while those with open investigations are keeping their options live. With Singapore's probe ongoing and Nvidia's board investigation just started, the reputational and commercial questions surrounding Huang's exit will extend well past the leadership transition itself.