AI Photo: VCG

Two officials from the US Commerce Department’s Office of Information and Communications Technology and Services (OICTS), focused on countering the so-called “Chinese tech threats,” were dismissed, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Friday local time. 

A Chinese expert said on Saturday that the reported personnel change in key positions may be part of the US administration’s ongoing adjustments to its technology policy toward China; however, long-term US pressure on advanced Chinese technology is likely to persist.

The WSJ report cited people familiar with the matter as claiming that one of the departing staffer Liz Cannon, the executive director of the OICTS appointed under the Biden administration, submitted her resignation. Her announced departure follows the exit of one of her deputies, who was put on administrative leave last week, per the WSJ.

Both OICTS officials were integral in establishing a rule last year that widely restricts the import and sale of internet-connected passenger vehicles and related hardware and software with links to China or Russia, the WSJ report claimed.

Reuters also claimed that the US administration has pushed out a Commerce Department official whose office effectively barred nearly all Chinese cars from the US market for national security reasons. News of Cannon's impending departure comes shortly after the department dropped a plan to impose restrictions on Chinese drones, per Reuters. 

Ma Jihua, a veteran tech industry analyst, told the Global Times on Saturday that the reported moves likely reflect the US’ ongoing adjustments to its technology policy toward China. 

Earlier this week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in media interviews that the US relationship with China has reached a “very good equilibrium,” according to the WSJ report. Meanwhile, the US administration is reported to move closer to allowing Nvidia to sell H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China, according to a Bloomberg report.

Reports in the US media outlets suggest that China-US relations are gradually returning to a more rational footing, rather than being dominated by hawkish voices on economic and trade issues. However, long-term American pressure on Chinese advanced technology is likely to continue, according to Ma.  

“The US' long-term strategy of technological containment of China is unlikely to change; it will only adjust specific tactics under pressure,” Ma said, adding that unilateral US bans on the import and export of Chinese technology products (such as new energy vehicles, AI chips) or obstruction of trade in the telecommunications sector are ineffective, forcing the US to change course and return to a mutually beneficial approach.

Ma said that cooperation between China and the US benefits both sides, while coercive measures and economic decoupling by the US could harm both sides. He urged the US to engage in technological exchanges with China on the basis of mutual benefit rather than by imposing reckless unilateral restrictions. 

"As two major technological powers, China and the US would both benefit from easing of tensions and stabilization, which would strongly promote global economic development and technological progress," he noted.