US Defense Department adds Alibaba, Baidu and BYD to China military cooperation list

The U.S. Department of Defense announced that Chinese technology firms Alibaba, Baidu and electric‑vehicle maker BYD have been placed on a list of companies it says cooperate with the Chinese armed forces. All three firms rejected the designation, calling the claim baseless. Representative John Moolenaar said the move “serves as a warning for American businesses, public authorities and the American public.” The listing, issued less than a month after former President Donald Trump’s visit to China, is expected to have limited immediate effect but could constrain U.S. public‑ and private‑sector dealings with the firms and add tension to bilateral ties as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to travel to Washington in September. The list also previously added other Chinese AI firms, including Tencent.