As AI tech tensions with China rise, Singapore vows to work with the US amid concerns over DeepSeek’s potential bypass of Nvidia chip export controls.
Singapore has affirmed that its customs and law enforcement agencies will continue to cooperate closely with their US counterparts, following concerns that Chinese AI firm DeepSeek may have acquired Nvidia chips via overseas intermediaries based in the country.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Trade and Industry stated that questions have been raised regarding whether DeepSeek accessed Nvidia chips subject to US export controls through third-party intermediaries in Singapore. However, Nvidia has insisted that no evidence suggests that DeepSeek obtained any export-controlled products from Singapore.
According to a Bloomberg report, the US authorities are investigating whether DeepSeek purchased advanced Nvidia semiconductors through Singaporean intermediaries to bypass US restrictions on AI-related chips.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry highlighted that Singapore is a global business hub, with numerous US and European companies operating within the country. Nvidia has clarified that many of its clients use their Singaporean entities to purchase chips intended for the US and Western markets.
This statement comes amid a turbulent week for Nvidia, following an AI model launch by DeepSeek at a significantly lower price, which sparked concerns over Nvidia’s market valuation and the potential closing of the AI technology gap between the US and China. President Donald Trump met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House on Friday.
Nvidia, in a statement earlier last week, indicated that it did not believe DeepSeek violated US export restrictions.
Although DeepSeek has not fully disclosed the specific AI semiconductors it used, its researchers have noted that the V3 AI model released last month was trained using 2048 of Nvidia’s H800 chips. These chips were designed explicitly for the Chinese market after the Biden administration restricted access to more advanced versions.
The Singapore government reiterated its commitment to enforcing US export controls and local laws, stating that it has consistently acted firmly against any individuals or companies that breach regulations.
Following his meeting with Huang, Trump signalled that the US would eventually impose tariffs on chips, which could significantly impact Nvidia, which depends on overseas partners for semiconductor manufacturing.
