Taiwanese prosecutors announced charges on Monday against nine individuals accused of illegally exporting high-end AI servers to mainland China. The case, which involves staff members from major tech firms including Nvidia and Super Micro, highlights the ongoing volatility in the artificial intelligence rivalry between the United States and China.
According to the prosecutor's office, 74 servers were successfully delivered to mainland China. The logistics of the operation involved complex routing to bypass oversight: 50 servers were shipped through Indonesia, 16 were sent directly to China, and eight were routed through Japan and then Hong Kong before reaching the mainland. Some of the defendants allegedly established a company in Japan to facilitate these transfers, while others are accused of utilizing falsified information and fake websites to evade international export regulations.
A separate attempt to export 56 additional servers was intercepted and remains in Taiwan, officials stated. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum five-year prison sentence for four of the defendants, including a manager at Nvidia identified by the family name Chang. The prosecution document described Chang as a key figure responsible for authorizing the release of B300 GPUs, noting that he demonstrated a poor attitude following the discovery of the offense.
The U.S. has maintained strict limitations on the export of advanced semiconductors to China since 2022, with requirements periodically tightened. While Washington mandated licenses for Nvidia’s H20 chip exports in April 2025, some sales were permitted to resume later that year.
In response to the charges, an Nvidia spokesperson, Patrick Rutherford, stated in a written release that the company intends to work with Taiwanese authorities to resolve the allegations as quickly as possible. Super Micro also issued a statement confirming that two of its former employees were arrested, noting that the company has been cooperating with Taiwanese authorities and remains committed to enhancing its export compliance program to protect American innovation.
Another attempt involving 56 servers failed, and the servers remain in Taiwan, said the prosecutor's office.
