** Australian tech stocks .AXIJ rise 2.2%, paring losses from previous session

** Sub-index rises to its highest level since Dec. 10

** Sub-index tracked gains from its Wall Street peers as AI-linked technology shares recovered from a sharp selloff triggered by DeepSeek, a low-cost Chinese AI model

** Shares of AI software firm Appen APX.AX and AI chipmaker Brainchip BRN.AX up 2.9% and 4.6%, respectively

** Sub-index down 0.9% this year, as of last close

(Reporting by Sherin Sunny in Bengaluru)

((Sherin.Sunny@thomsonreuters.com))