Chinese AI firms are seeking overseas Nvidia computing capacity as a US bill that passed the House 369-22 raises concerns about future limits on remote access, Unite.AI reported on 12 November 2026. A major Chinese cloud provider has discussed securing capacity abroad, while other companies have approached data-centre operators about reservations.
Key points
- A major Chinese cloud provider has discussed reserving overseas Nvidia capacity, and smaller AI labs are weighing similar steps.
- The Remote Access Security Act would give the US Commerce Department authority to regulate qualifying remote access to controlled technology.
- Two people cited by Unite.AI said concern about tighter enforcement had increased demand for restricted Nvidia chips in China’s grey market.
Overseas Nvidia reservations draw Chinese labs
Two people cited in the report said smaller AI labs were considering overseas capacity, including by approaching large rented-compute providers in Southeast Asia. The cloud provider’s discussions were internal. The approaches to data-centre operators concern possible reservations.
Renting computing power overseas gives Chinese developers access to advanced Nvidia processors without bringing the chips into China. US restrictions cover exports to China of the company’s most advanced AI chips. The rented processors can be used to train and run the models behind generative-AI products.
Other developers have looked for capacity outside China. AI Affairs previously reported that Moonshot AI sought Nvidia Blackwell capacity in European data centres.
Remote Access Security Act awaits Senate action
The Remote Access Security Act would extend US export-control authority to remote use of covered technology by foreign persons. It would allow the Commerce Department to regulate access over a network, including a cloud service, when the department determines that use could pose a serious risk to US national security or foreign policy. The authority would apply to access from a place other than where the equipment is physically located, Unite.AI reported.
The House approved the bill on 12 January 2026 by 369 votes to 22. The Senate received it on 13 January and referred it to its Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. It has not passed the Senate.
The bill would also require Commerce to brief congressional committees on anticipated regulations, their rationale and possible economic effects. Those committees would not have to approve the department’s use of the proposed authority.
Two people cited by Unite.AI said the prospect of tougher enforcement had increased demand for restricted Nvidia AI processors in China’s grey market, with traders and intermediaries stockpiling chips. That buying concerns physical processors, while the reported approaches to overseas operators concern access to computing services.
Megaspeed allegations put Southeast Asian capacity in focus
Megaspeed, a Singapore-based cloud computing provider, is suspected of routing advanced AI processors to Chinese companies, Fortune reported on 11 November. Its Malaysian subsidiary, Speedmatrix, reportedly received more than 200 shipments of restricted Nvidia technology between June 2024 and June 2025.
Fortune reported allegations that at least $7.5 billion worth of Nvidia chips moved through Megaspeed and Speedmatrix. It said the processors were subsequently used in data centres supplying AI computing capacity to Alibaba and Tencent.
Megaspeed has denied wrongdoing. Nvidia has said it found no evidence of illicit chip transfers. Singapore says it is investigating Megaspeed for suspected breaches of its domestic laws, Fortune reported.
