Chinese AI companies are moving aggressively to secure Nvidia chip-based computing capacity at data centres outside China, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing three sources.

The report said Chinese companies are worried the U.S. government could tighten regulations on the remote use of advanced chips following a scandal involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (젠슨 황).

The United States has restricted exports of Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips to China, and Chinese companies have been renting computing power at overseas data centres.

The report said a major Chinese cloud company held internal discussions about whether to lock in overseas Nvidia chip capacity in advance. Some companies asked data centre operators about reserving capacity. Two sources said smaller AI companies are also considering reaching out to major computing rental providers in Southeast Asia.

The companies appear concerned that the controversy surrounding Huang could give momentum in the United States to passage of the Remote Access Security Act (RASA).

The bill’s core aim is to grant the U.S. Commerce Department authority to regulate cloud-based remote access to technologies under export controls. The bill passed the House in January by 369 votes to 22, and is awaiting Senate action.

As tougher enforcement is expected, there are also reports that demand is rising in China’s grey market for Nvidia chips. Reuters, citing two sources, reported that traders and brokers have moved to stockpile Nvidia AI chips subject to export restrictions.