Taiwan's Keelung prosecutors expanded their investigation into Supermicro's illegal AI server exports to China, searching Qingyun Technology and
On June 29, 2026, the Keelung District Prosecutors Office launched the second wave of investigation into the illegal export of Supermicro servers equipped with high-end NVIDIA AI chips to China, Hong Kong, and Macau, expanding the search scope to upstream supply chain and peripheral service providers[1]. Investigators have targeted Supermicro's Taiwan branch, Qingyun Technology, and Shifang Telecom, summoning multiple executives and relevant personnel to determine whether individuals used false customs documents or misreported final destinations to evade export controls[1]. The涉案 equipment primarily consists of servers equipped with high-end AI chips, allegedly diverted via third countries and with falsely reported cargo flows to circumvent U.S. export restrictions; the investigation is now focused on document forgery, breach of trust, and violations of trade-related laws[1].
Unlike the first wave, which focused on涉案 individuals and the direct export chain, the second wave covers the entire AI server supply chain process, including system manufacturing, distribution sales, logistics transportation, and data center managed services[1]. Shifang Telecom clarified that the company only provides IDC data center and data center managed services, is not the equipment owner, did not participate in equipment transactions, and legally has no authority to intervene in client equipment content or flow[1]. Qingyun Technology stated it is fully cooperating with investigators, with operations, finance, and business remaining normal, but its stock price hit the daily limit down after the incident was exposed[1].
This case involves not only Taiwan's prosecutorial investigation but also the U.S. Department of Justice, which in March 2026 filed criminal charges against three individuals, including Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan "Wally" Liaw, for allegedly smuggling AI servers equipped with high-end NVIDIA GPUs to China via third-country companies and false transaction arrangements starting in 2022, with涉案 amounts totaling approximately $2.5 billion[1]. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that the relevant conduct involved falsifying end-user information, using overseas companies to place orders, and altering equipment flow, making this one of the most significant U.S. cases in recent years regarding export controls on AI chips and high-performance computing equipment[1].
The core technical controversy in this case lies in how to evade U.S. export controls on high-end NVIDIA GPUs (such as H100, A100, etc.). The涉案 parties primarily employed three technical and operational methods: First, falsifying end-user information by misreporting the true destination (China) as a third country with less stringent U.S. export controls (e.g., Southeast Asian nations)[1]. Second, misreporting product models by declaring high-end AI chip servers as low-end or uncontrolled models, making customs documents inconsistent with actual goods[1]. Third, using third-country companies to place orders and divert shipments, conducting transactions through shell companies, assembling or repackaging into unlabeled boxes in Southeast Asia, then secretly shipping to China[5].
Technically, each of these servers typically houses eight NVIDIA GPUs, offering extremely high computing performance designed specifically for AI training and high-performance computing[5]. The涉案 parties used encrypted communication software throughout to coordinate without leaving traces, even using household hair dryers as作案 tools (possibly for dismantling or modifying hardware labels)[5]. Such methods indicate the涉案 parties have deep understanding of hardware specifications, customs procedures, and export control regulations, enabling precise operations to evade oversight[1]. Additionally, falsifying end-user statements and using overseas companies to place orders are common international trade methods to evade export controls, but in this case, the scale is massive and highly organized[1].
The U.S. Department of Justice indictment even includes photos and conversation records, meticulously documenting the criminal process, demonstrating that enforcement agencies have gathered sufficient evidence[4]. With涉案 amounts reaching $2.5 billion, this is considered one of the largest AI technology smuggling cases in U.S. history[3]. Technically, high-end NVIDIA GPUs are restricted under U.S. export control regulations to prevent their use in military or high-end AI applications, yet the涉案 parties successfully diverted equipment to China through complex diversion and false reporting methods, breaking through export restrictions[5].
This case has an extremely broad scope of impact, involving judicial and trade systems across Taiwan, the U.S., and China. First, in Taiwan, the Keelung District Prosecutors Office searched Supermicro's Taiwan branch, Qingyun Technology, and Shifang Telecom, and detained three business personnel, indicating that upstream supply chain enterprises have been directly卷入 into judicial investigations[1]. Qingyun Technology's stock price hit the daily limit down, with market concerns about the case's subsequent development, impacting the stock prices of listed companies and investor confidence[1]. Although Shifang Telecom clarified it only provides data center services, the search incident may still affect its corporate image and client trust[1].
In the U.S., this case has triggered criminal charges by the U.S. Department of Justice; Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan Liaw and two others face up to 20–30 years in prison if convicted, which would significantly impact U.S. AI chip export control policies[3]. U.S. enforcement agencies have classified this as the largest AI chip export smuggling case, attaching evidence such as photos and conversation records, demonstrating a severe stance against such crimes[4]. Additionally, this case may trigger a U.S. Section 301 investigation into Taiwan's chip industry, further affecting cross-border trade relations[4].
In China, the final destination of the涉案 equipment is China, which may strengthen China's AI training and high-performance computing capabilities, posing a challenge to U.S. export control policies[5]. The global AI industry chain may also be affected, as stricter export controls require companies to reassess supply chain risks and compliance costs[4]. The industry generally understands that companies卷入 in such smuggling cases will face severe legal sanctions and financial losses[4]. With a massive scale and涉案 amounts of $2.5 billion, this case has caused significant disruption to the global AI chip trade order[3].
To prevent similar export control evasion incidents from occurring again, enterprises and governments should adopt the following protective measures: First, strengthen the enforcement and implementation of export control regulations; enterprises should establish strict internal review mechanisms to ensure customs documents match actual goods[2]. Second, enhance supply chain management by strictly reviewing third-country diversion and overseas company orders, avoiding the use of shell companies to evade controls[5]. Third, improve technical monitoring capabilities by using digital tracking and encrypted communication analysis to detect abnormal transactions and diversion behaviors[5]. Fourth, strengthen international cooperation by sharing information with judicial authorities in the U.S., China, and other countries to jointly combat smuggling[4]. Fifth, conduct regular compliance training to ensure employees understand export control regulations and the legal risks of document forgery[2].