US hyperscalers race to build multibillion-dollar AI data centers, but China controls critical parts

The biggest names in American tech are writing checks that would make sovereign wealth funds blush. Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta have collectively committed over $650 billion in capital expenditure for data center expansion in 2026, with some analyst estimates pushing that figure closer to $750 billion. There’s just one problem: a significant chunk of the hardware keeping these facilities humming comes from China. The supply chain paradox The US is simultaneously trying to outpace China in AI development and depending on Chinese manufacturers to supply the electrical infrastructure that makes AI data centers possible. Chinese firms supply roughly 30% of US transformers and switchgear, over 40% of batteries used in data center operations, and about two-thirds of global optical transceiver units. The US currently faces an estimated 15% shortfall in power transformers and an 8% deficit in substations projected for 2026. These aren’t minor inconveniences. Power transformers are the backbone of electrical distribution, and without enough of them, data centers simply cannot connect to the grid at the scale hyperscalers need. To put the power demands in perspective, a major facil...