BYD and Alibaba among big names aiding China’s military, Pentagon says
Updated Pentagon list includes swathe of China’s top technology firms in move that could inflame tensions between the countries
TL;DR
- The US added Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, CXMT, YMTC, WuXi AppTec, RoboSense, and Unitree to a list of companies aiding China's military.
- This updated list supersedes a previous one and reflects Washington's security concerns amid geopolitical competition.
- Alibaba, Baidu, and WuXi AppTec have denied the allegations and stated they will take legal action or challenge their inclusion.
- The listing does not impose sanctions but will prohibit the defense department from contracting with these companies starting later this month, and from buying their products or services via third parties by 2027.
- China's embassy in Washington opposed the move, calling for a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.