The United States wants to restrict China's access to advanced AI chips. But could those very chips be reaching Chinese customers through a complex network of companies in Southeast Asia? Nvidia, the world's leading AI chipmaker, is facing scrutiny over allegations that its advanced processors may have been routed through intermediaries in countries such as Singapore and Malaysia to reach China. At the centre of the controversy is a larger question: how effective are America's restrictions on China's access to advanced AI technology?