Nvidia spy scandal reaches Taiwan parliament in tense exchange
TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) confirmed Tuesday (Nov. 10) that the government possesses immigration records showing Alice Huang (黃樂), the woman at the center of the Nvidia spy scandal, entered the country "at least once," while giving a pointed non-denial when asked whether the United States had requested Taipei's assistance in the investigation.
"I cannot say whether they have or haven't," Cho told legislators in Taiwan's parliament, the Legislative Yuan (立法院). The ambiguity prompted opposition legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) of the Kuomintang (中國國民黨) to interpret the response as implicit confirmation. "Then that means yes," Lai said.
The exchange came as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) faces mounting pressure. The New York Times reported last month that U.S. intelligence officials believe Alice Huang is a Chinese intelligence operative. Huang admitted Sunday to being unfaithful to his wife but has not addressed the espionage allegations.
Cho declined to comment on Huang's personal life but emphasized that matters involving Taiwan's technology industry or national interests fall under strict legal oversight, citing export controls and the Foreign Trade Act (貿易法).
When pressed on whether Alice Huang had been confirmed as a Chinese spy, Cho deferred to the ongoing U.S. investigation. "I haven't conducted an investigation, so I don't know," he said, adding that Taiwan would conduct its own review.
The premier confirmed Taiwan possesses historical records that could corroborate the investigations. "We are using past records to verify this round of investigations from all parties," Cho said.
Lai accused Taiwan's national security apparatus of failing to detect Alice Huang's alleged espionage activities. "Our national security units have collapsed! A Chinese Communist Party female spy came in and they didn't even know," he said.
Alice Huang briefly served as a senior executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center company and major Nvidia customer currently under investigation in multiple jurisdictions for alleged chip smuggling. The company has denied involvement in illegal chip transactions.
The scandal has rattled Nvidia's stock. Shares fell 4.3% on Monday, erasing approximately US$190 billion (around NT$6.24 trillion) in market value. Shareholders filed a class-action lawsuit against the company and Huang, alleging they were misled about his relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.
China has dismissed the allegations. Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun (郭嘉昆) said accusations Alice Huang collected intelligence for Beijing were "groundless pure speculation, an attempt to smear and defame China."
Nvidia's board announced Sunday it would form a committee of independent directors to investigate whether Huang was targeted by "foreign intelligence activity." U.S. President Donald Trump said he spoke with Huang and that the CEO was "completely unaware" his affair partner was a Chinese spy.
Neither Taiwan's National Security Bureau (國安局) nor the National Immigration Agency (移民署) has issued a statement on their knowledge of Alice Huang's activities. The American Institute in Taiwan has not responded to questions about whether it requested Taiwan's cooperation. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$32.83)