Key Takeaways
- • Singapore's home affairs ministry said it seized the passport of Alice Huang, former CEO and chairperson of Singapore-based Nvidia customer Megaspeed, in 2025 while investigating suspected offences tied to AI chip purchases, and that the US provided only "limited" help in the probe.
- • The ministry said there was insufficient evidence that Huang committed any offence, but that she provided police with information she knew to be inaccurate and downplayed her role at Megaspeed; she left Singapore in February after her passport was returned and she was banned from re-entering.
- • Singapore said the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security conducted a shipment verification check at Megaspeed in June 2025 with Huang present, the first time Singapore learned of Washington's interest in the company and Huang.
- • Singapore said it made repeated requests to the US Department of Justice and FBI for help securing cooperation from Super Micro Computer, and has received "limited information or assistance" in respect of the company.
- • Investigations into Megaspeed and six individuals remain ongoing, according to the ministry.
Summary
Singapore's home affairs ministry said on Thursday that it seized the passport of Alice Huang in 2025 while investigating the Chinese businesswoman, and that it received "limited" help from the US in its probe into AI chip deals, according to Reuters. Huang was at the centre of a scandal that the article links to the resignation of Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang, who Nvidia said had resigned following reports of two extramarital affairs, one involving Alice Huang, whom US authorities suspect of spying for Beijing. Reuters reported that the link between the two Huangs is as described in those reports.
The ministry said the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) carried out a shipment verification check at Singapore-based Nvidia customer Megaspeed in June 2025, with Huang, then the company's CEO, present. It was the first time Singapore learned of Washington's interest in Megaspeed and Huang, and police interviewed her and impounded her passport the same day. Singapore had opened an independent investigation in February 2025 into several companies, including Megaspeed, over potential false declarations in the purchase of servers and other related offences. The ministry said the investigation into Huang concerned suspected involvement in possible offences given her position as then-CEO, chairperson and one of the key controllers of Megaspeed, and that it did not concern espionage.
The ministry said there was insufficient evidence to establish that Huang had committed any offence, but that she had provided police with information she knew to be inaccurate and had downplayed her role at Megaspeed. She left Singapore in February after her passport was returned and was banned from re-entering. Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that she is living in Beijing with the knowledge of security officials. Huang could not be reached for comment. US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department has not yet reached a conclusion on whether she was a Chinese spy.
Singapore also said it had been looking into US AI server maker Super Micro Computer, without elaborating on whether this related to the Megaspeed case. Three people associated with Super Micro, including a co-founder, were charged in March by US prosecutors with helping smuggle billions of dollars of AI chips to China through Southeast Asia and Taiwan. The ministry said Super Micro provided limited cooperation, prompting repeated requests to the US Department of Justice and FBI, but that "despite these repeated requests, Singapore has to date received limited information or assistance in respect of the company."
The home affairs ministry said investigations into Megaspeed and six individuals are ongoing, and that Singapore would "not allow companies or individuals to misuse Singapore's business environment to engage in fraud or dishonest practices" and would cooperate with foreign authorities where appropriate. Media reports have said Washington also investigated Megaspeed over suspicions it helped China obtain advanced AI chips restricted under US export controls. Megaspeed said it takes its compliance obligations under US export control laws "extremely seriously" and has cooperated with US inspections.
The ministry said the US Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) carried out a shipment verification check at Singapore-based Nvidia customer Megaspeed in June 2025, with Huang, then the company's CEO, present. It was the first time Singapore learned of Washington's interest in Megaspeed and Huang, and police interviewed her and impounded her passport the same day. Singapore had opened an independent investigation in February 2025 into several companies, including Megaspeed, over potential false declarations in the purchase of servers and other related offences. The ministry said the investigation into Huang concerned suspected involvement in possible offences given her position as then-CEO, chairperson and one of the key controllers of Megaspeed, and that it did not concern espionage.
The ministry said there was insufficient evidence to establish that Huang had committed any offence, but that she had provided police with information she knew to be inaccurate and had downplayed her role at Megaspeed. She left Singapore in February after her passport was returned and was banned from re-entering. Bloomberg News reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that she is living in Beijing with the knowledge of security officials. Huang could not be reached for comment. US Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department has not yet reached a conclusion on whether she was a Chinese spy.
Singapore also said it had been looking into US AI server maker Super Micro Computer, without elaborating on whether this related to the Megaspeed case. Three people associated with Super Micro, including a co-founder, were charged in March by US prosecutors with helping smuggle billions of dollars of AI chips to China through Southeast Asia and Taiwan. The ministry said Super Micro provided limited cooperation, prompting repeated requests to the US Department of Justice and FBI, but that "despite these repeated requests, Singapore has to date received limited information or assistance in respect of the company."
The home affairs ministry said investigations into Megaspeed and six individuals are ongoing, and that Singapore would "not allow companies or individuals to misuse Singapore's business environment to engage in fraud or dishonest practices" and would cooperate with foreign authorities where appropriate. Media reports have said Washington also investigated Megaspeed over suspicions it helped China obtain advanced AI chips restricted under US export controls. Megaspeed said it takes its compliance obligations under US export control laws "extremely seriously" and has cooperated with US inspections.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.