US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sought to quell fears in Senate testimony on Wednesday that American technology was aiding China’s military, but drew scepticism given the US president’s willingness to sell advanced semiconductors.

Lutnick asserted before the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee that US President Donald Trump was striking a “delicate balance” on the technology transfer issue given his cordial personal relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, claiming that China has not bought any advanced chips “as of today”.

“There is a delicate balance in the relationship with China. President Trump has the best relationship with President Xi, and he balances that,” he said, adding that “I understand that balance, but the president understands it the best.”

Hoping to be what he described as “crystal clear”, Lutnick said the US was not “selling our best chips to China under any circumstances”.

“I would tell you, they have not bought any as of today,” he added.

But Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat congressman on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking in the other US legislative chamber, issued a scathing critique of what he framed as the administration’s lax enforcement of outbound technology curbs.