Abstract: In recent years, techno-economic security has become a prominent issue in China. Strengthening the assessment of techno-economic security has been included in the Outline of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, which urgently needs the support of basic theoretical and methodological research. This article focuses on technological dependence, draws on the relevant theories of international technology transfer, analyzes the interrelationship among production capability, dependence, and innovation capability and its impact on economic security, and proposes a PTIER (product capability—technology dependence—innovation capability—economic effects—economic risks) mechanism ("three stages and two effects") in which technological dependence affects economic security. After the technology-receiving country introduces technology to form product capability, it may form technological dependence, which will be self-sustaining if it fails to develop innovation capability in time. Technological dependence can be both a catalyst for economic development and a threat to economic security due to the costs and risks associated with the dependency. If the technology transfer that forms dependency is restricted, the short-term economic damage to the technology-receiving country is inevitable, but it may also force the local innovation capability to improve.