Pentagon Expands List of Chinese Military Companies

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has expanded its list of Chinese military companies. This list now includes tech giant Alibaba, electric car manufacturer BYD, and search engine Baidu. These additions prevent these companies from entering U.S. defense contracts.

The updated list, published Monday, now includes recognized Chinese entities not traditionally linked to defense or security. It highlights growing concerns over Beijing using non-state businesses for military aims.

The Chinese Embassy on Monday accused the U.S. of “overstretching the concept of national security and making discriminatory lists to go after Chinese companies.”

The list was created in 2021 to identify Chinese firms linked to the military, involving not only those directly operated by its forces but also those supporting its defense sector. The Pentagon had noted before that the Chinese military aims to access advanced technologies from domestic enterprises.

Accusations from China followed the update. The Chinese Embassy claimed that U.S. actions are biased and called for fair treatment. Alibaba and Baidu responded that their inclusion lacks justification. Alibaba emphasized it is not part of any military strategy. Baidu described claims of its military links as “baseless.”

The updated list now identifies 188 Chinese companies, a rise from the previous 130. DJI, a major drone producer, has been a long-time member. Inclusion on the list does not stop business in the U.S. but could affect reputation and lead to further restrictions.

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party issued a warning following the update. The committee suggested that companies on the list, which are traded on U.S. exchanges, should be delisted. It cautioned American enterprises against engaging with these firms.

In particular, Alibaba was noted by the Pentagon for its ties to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aligning with China’s defense sector. BYD and Baidu are also linked to the same governmental body.

While President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese carmakers, some U.S. lawmakers aim to ban Chinese electric vehicles. Unitree, a Chinese robotics company known for its dancing robots, also joined the list. The Pentagon stated Unitree received governmental support as an innovative and critical supply chain company.

BYD and Unitree did not immediately comment.