World

Taiwan weighs tighter rules for AI chip exports to China

A person walks past the logo of TSMC or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited outside of its office building in Hsinchu, Taiwan, 16 April 2026. Photo by RITCHIE B. TONGO / EPA
A person walks past the logo of TSMC or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited outside of its office building in Hsinchu, Taiwan, 16 April 2026. Photo by RITCHIE B. TONGO / EPA

June 10 (Asia Today) -- Taiwan is considering tighter export controls on artificial intelligence chips bound for China as it moves to align more closely with U.S. restrictions, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.

The measure is intended to give Taiwanese authorities more legal tools to stop advanced hardware, including AI servers equipped with Nvidia chips, from being routed through Taiwan and into China.

If adopted, the move could draw a sharp response from Beijing.

The United States has restricted exports of advanced AI chips to China since 2022, requiring U.S. companies to obtain government approval before selling certain products to Chinese customers. Washington has said the rules are intended to prevent China from using advanced Nvidia processors to gain a military advantage.

Taiwanese officials are reviewing a broader AI semiconductor control plan as part of ongoing trade talks with the United States, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The proposal would expand sales restrictions beyond specific blacklisted companies, such as Huawei, to cover all customers in China.

If the plan is implemented, Taiwan would be able to treat the smuggling of AI chips into China as a criminal offense, similar to the U.S. approach.

The proposed rules could place additional compliance burdens on Taiwanese companies including Gigabyte and Asus, which assemble Nvidia-based servers. Those firms may need to strengthen business management and monitoring systems to comply with the new restrictions.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs said it will continue strengthening oversight of strategic high-tech items to better align with international export-control regimes.

The ministry said Taiwan and the United States are continuing consultations on issues including whether to include advanced semiconductors among regulated items.

China is expected to strongly oppose any new restrictions. Last year, after Taiwan added Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., China's largest chipmaker, to its export-control blacklist, China's Foreign Ministry accused the Democratic Progressive Party government led by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te of damaging Taiwan's interests by aligning with Washington.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260610010003524

Copyright 2026 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:42 PM.

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