Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government continues its crackdown on Chinese technical personnel, with Microsoft announcing it will stop employing Chinese engineers to provide technical support to the U.S. military [1][2]. Group 1: Microsoft's Decision - Microsoft has adjusted its service model for U.S. government clients to ensure that no Chinese teams provide technical support for the Pentagon [1]. - This decision follows a report by ProPublica, which revealed that Microsoft had previously involved Chinese engineers in U.S. military cloud computing projects [2]. - The report raised concerns about the capabilities of "digital guardians," who are hired to oversee foreign engineers but may lack the technical skills to assess potential cybersecurity risks [2]. Group 2: Political Reactions - Republican Senator Tom Cotton has requested a list of contractors employing Chinese personnel for the Department of Defense and more information on the training of "digital guardians" [4][5]. - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a two-week review to ensure that Chinese engineers are not involved in any cloud service contracts with the Department of Defense [5]. Group 3: Impact on Microsoft's Business - The cessation of employing Chinese engineers is expected to affect Microsoft's Azure cloud services, which currently contributes over 25% of the company's revenue [5]. - Microsoft's latest quarterly report indicated that over half of its $700 billion revenue comes from domestic clients, highlighting the significance of government contracts [5]. Group 4: China's Response - The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly condemned the U.S. for its allegations regarding cybersecurity threats and has urged the U.S. to stop using these issues to smear China [6].