US blacklists Chinese tech giants over alleged military links

The U.S. Department of Defense updated its annual list of Chinese companies it deems to support the People’s Liberation Army, adding major firms such as Alibaba, Baidu, automakers BYD and Nio, memory‑chip makers CXMT and YMTC, biotech firm WuXi AppTec, and robotics companies RoboSense and Unitree. The list now includes 188 entities and is required by U.S. law to be filed each year. Several companies issued statements rejecting the designation, with Alibaba, Baidu and WuXi AppTec calling the claims unfounded and vowing legal challenges. The Chinese embassy in Washington protested the “discriminatory” list, saying Chinese firms comply with local regulations. The update follows a brief, withdrawn version of the list released in February and comes weeks after President Trump’s visit to Beijing, amid ongoing U.S.–China strategic competition. The Pentagon noted that companies can petition for removal, and House China Select Committee Chair John Moolenaar warned that the firms are working with the Chinese military against U.S. interests. Some entities owned by state‑owned oil major CNOOC were removed, while a subsidiary, China BlueChemical, was added.