【By Observer Net, Liu Bai】According to news from China News Network, NVIDIA's CEO Huang Renxun previously expressed his pleasure at the U.S. lifting export restrictions on H20 chips. However, this "corrective" move by the Trump administration has made a group of American Democratic politicians extremely anxious.

In a letter sent to U.S. Commerce Secretary Rutenberg on July 27, Democratic members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the anti-China institution "China Committee" expressed "serious concerns" about the relaxation of chip exports to China, claiming that Trump's move overstepped the boundary, treating security issues as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations. A U.S. government official admitted that there are serious divisions within the government on how to engage in technological competition with China.

A U.S. government official who did not wish to be named said that Trump now hopes for "strategic stability" with China, and companies like NVIDIA are eager to participate in it.

According to multiple U.S. government sources, to avoid affecting trade talks with China and to help Trump facilitate the summit between the Chinese and U.S. leaders this year, the U.S. government has frozen technology export controls to China. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is responsible for implementing export controls, has been told in the past few months to avoid taking tough measures against China.

It is worth noting that China has repeatedly stated its firm position regarding the U.S.'s malicious blockade and suppression of China's semiconductor industry. China has consistently opposed this, and such suppression will not hinder China's development, but rather strengthen China's determination and ability to achieve self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology.

Analysts have noted that as U.S. and Chinese officials hold new rounds of trade negotiations in Stockholm this week, there are signs that Silicon Valley, which supports commercial interests, is overtaking the hardliners who prioritize security in the Trump administration's policy toward China.

The Trump administration's recent relaxation of export restrictions on NVIDIA's chips to China has become a focal point of controversy. According to reports, this shift in policy has shocked the hardliners focused on security issues, who criticized it for overstepping the boundaries and using security issues as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations.

July 23, Washington, D.C., NVIDIA CEO Huang Renxun attended the "Winning the AI Race" event. IC Photo

In a letter sent late on the 27th, "China Committee" Democratic chief member Rajah Krishnamurthy and Gregory Micks of the Foreign Affairs Committee wrote that they were "seriously concerned" about the government using chip export controls "as a bargaining chip."

They claimed that by doing so, Trump was sending a signal to China and all countries negotiating with the United States — that this administration is willing to sacrifice U.S. national interests and economic security for the illusory benefits of tariff negotiations.

On the morning of the 28th, five Democratic senators also wrote to Rutenberg, urging him to "quickly revoke these unwise actions" and stating that "key technological advantages should not be used as a concession in trade negotiations." The signatories of the letter included Senator Mark Warner, vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

Megan Harris, who served as a National Security Council official during Trump's first term, said that Trump's relaxation of H20 chip exports to China shocked both Republican and Democratic officials involved in export control work.

She said, "Now every subsequent export control measure is questioned — why are we doing this? Are we willing to lift these measures after reaching an agreement?"

The U.S. policy of restricting China's access to U.S.-made computing chips under the guise of "national security" has long faced doubts internationally. Some foreign officials believe that this policy is at least partly driven by U.S. industrial policies aimed at advancing U.S. commercial interests, rather than purely security considerations.

A U.S. government official, speaking about policy details, said that there are serious divisions within the government on how to better respond to China's technological competition. At present, the Silicon Valley faction seems to be gaining the upper hand over the security hawk faction.

Another U.S. government official, who did not wish to be named, also said that Trump now hopes for "strategic stability" with China, and companies like NVIDIA are eager to participate in it.

"Huang Renxun repeatedly emphasized that selling H20 chips would improve bilateral relations," the official added, "and 100 CEOs have said exactly the same thing as Huang Renxun."

According to multiple informed sources, to avoid affecting trade talks with China and to help Trump facilitate the summit between the Chinese and U.S. leaders this year, the U.S. government has frozen technology export controls to China.

Eight informed individuals, including current and former U.S. officials, said that the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which is responsible for implementing export controls, has been instructed in the past few months to avoid taking tough measures against China.

Some officials also pointed out that the U.S. faces constraints in implementing export controls due to the possibility of China retaliating by restricting the export of key rare earths and magnets to the U.S.

Kyle Chen, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University studying U.S.-China competition, said that during Trump's first term, the focus was more on limiting China's technological development, while in the second term, these policies were more often viewed as bargaining chips.

"The Trump of 2025 may face strong criticism from the Trump of 2018 on China policy adjustments," he said.

American anti-China politicians are manipulating security issues during the Sino-U.S. talks, exposing their growing anxiety.

"From being overly tough to showing friendliness, how has Trump's policy toward China changed?" foreign media previously noticed that Trump's policy on chip sales to China has undergone a dramatic reversal recently, and the pro-hawk factions are losing influence. The Trump administration that initially aimed to force China to submit through punitive tariffs is now seeking to improve relations with China, highlighting China's influence on the U.S. economy.

U.S. government officials from various departments said that the Trump administration is suspending more aggressive actions against China and pushing initiatives that would leave a good impression on China. In addition, Trump is eager to be invited to visit China later this year, further reinforcing the cautious attitude of the administration toward China.

July 11, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio in Kuala Lumpur. Both sides exchanged views on Sino-U.S. relations and issues of common concern.

Wang Yi comprehensively explained China's principles for developing Sino-U.S. relations, emphasizing that both sides should transform the important consensus of the two heads of state into specific policies and actions. He hoped that the U.S. would view China objectively, rationally, and practically, formulate its China policy with the goal of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and deal with China in an equal, respectful, and mutually beneficial manner, jointly finding the right way for Sino-U.S. relations in the new era.

Both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, practical, and constructive, and agreed to strengthen communication and dialogue through diplomatic channels and in various fields and levels. They emphasized the role of the diplomatic department in promoting bilateral relations, exploring areas for expanded cooperation while managing differences.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net and may not be reprinted without permission.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7532343031137026603/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author and is not necessarily the views of the publisher. Please express your opinion by clicking the [top/beat] button below.