Pentagon adds Alibaba, BYD, Baidu to Chinese military blacklist

The United States Pentagon updated its list of Chinese entities it deems to have links to the People’s Liberation Army, adding major technology and automotive firms Alibaba, BYD and Baidu. The revised list now includes 188 companies, up from around 130 the previous year, and also cites firms such as robotics company Unitree.

Companies placed on the list are barred from receiving U.S. defense contracts and may face reputational damage and possible further restrictions, though they can still operate in the U.S. market. The blacklist, created under a 2021 congressional mandate, targets non‑state firms that contribute to China’s defense‑industrial base, even if they are not directly owned by the military.

Alibaba, BYD and Baidu each issued statements denying any military affiliation. The Chinese embassy in Washington protested the move, calling the list discriminatory and urging the United States to end the practice.