US Probes Thai Firm OBON Corp for Smuggling Nvidia Chips to Alibaba

The U.S. has pinpointed OBON Corp, located in Bangkok, as the unidentified intermediary in a $2.5 billion operation to illegally transport Nvidia chips to Alibaba in China. This scheme reportedly involved rerouting advanced semiconductors, which fall under U.S. export regulations designed to limit China's access to AI technologies. OBON Corp is believed to have enabled the unlawful shipment of Nvidia chips, potentially including the A100 and H100 models, to the Chinese tech behemoth Alibaba. This situation reflects the escalating tensions in the ongoing tech conflict between the U.S. and China, as Washington imposes stricter chip export limitations. The investigation sheds light on how intermediaries can bypass sanctions, while Nvidia faces increasing pressure to adhere to export regulations. OBON Corp has yet to issue a statement regarding these claims.