How powerful is the Jen-Hsun Huang scandal? Foreign media revealed that "shocking numbers" may hit the core of Taiwan's semiconductor industry

NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang's extramarital affair scandal is spreading from the U.S. technology industry to Taiwan. Foreign media pointed out that Huang Jen-Hsun has been regarded as a symbol of Taiwan's technological achievements for many years and an important figure in connecting Taiwan's semiconductor industry with the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom. However, as one of the protagonists of the extramarital affair, Alice Huang, was suspected by the United States of being involved in Chinese intelligence activities, this turmoil for Taiwan is no longer just a private matter for technology giants. It also involves Taiwan's semiconductor industry, which may be affected by the uncertainty of Huida's business, as well as issues of national security and trust in the technology supply chain.

Analysis released by the U.S. Federal Reserve in February 2026 showed that in the second quarter of 2025, the scale of Taiwan's AI-related exports to the United States was equivalent to approximately 14% of Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP), highlighting Taiwan's importance in the global AI infrastructure supply chain.

Foreign media pointed out that the key reason why Taiwan is paying special attention to this crisis lies in Huida's close relationship with Taiwan's semiconductor industry. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is responsible for manufacturing Huida's advanced AI chips, and Taiwanese companies are also widely involved in chip packaging, server manufacturing, electronic assembly and other key component supply.

Jen-Hsun Huang has admitted to having an extramarital affair with Huang Le, the former director of Singapore technology company Megaspeed, and apologized to his wife, family and Huida employees. Huida's board of directors has launched an independent investigation to understand whether Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence operation, but the company emphasized that there is currently no reason to believe that U.S. national security or company secrets have been compromised. China refutes the espionage accusations as baseless.

"Reuters" pointed out that market doubts about the sustainability of AI spending have caused Huida's stock price to fall sharply, and intelligence doubts have further increased uncertainty. Although there is currently no sign that the investigation has affected Huida's orders from Taiwanese suppliers, if its leadership or business faces long-term uncertainty, it may have a wider impact on Taiwan's technology industry.

On the other hand, this turmoil has also raised concerns about Taiwan’s national security. Taiwan Immigration Director Lin Hongen confirmed on the 11th that Huang Le had entered Taiwan with a Hong Kong passport and the government had obtained his entry and exit records. Minister of the Interior Liu Shifang stated that Huang Le is currently outside the country, his entry permit has been revoked, and he is not allowed to enter Taiwan again.

According to the "AFP" report, Liu Shifang said that if she had known that Huang Le was a spy, she would certainly not have been allowed to enter the country. The Taiwan government will review measures such as pre-screening, spot checks, interviews, and post-entry tracking, and the national security agency is also actively investigating the matter.

According to foreign media analysis, if the United States further tightens export controls on advanced chips, semiconductor supply chain companies may face more complex compliance requirements. The United States is both an important security partner for Taiwan and an important market for the semiconductor industry, while China remains an important trading partner for Taiwanese companies, making Taiwan face a more complex business environment.

In addition, Taiwan's semiconductor industry is highly dependent on the protection of intellectual property rights and the trust of overseas customers and governments. If the outside world has concerns that sensitive technology may be leaked through personal relationships or corporate security breaches, it may lead to stricter scrutiny from the United States and other international partners, and may even provide more reasons for Europe and the United States to promote geographical diversification of semiconductor manufacturing.

At present, the focus of attention is still on the independent investigation of Huida's board of directors, the US investigation into suspected intelligence activities, and Taiwan's review of immigration review and national security procedures.