Pentagon Expands Chinese Military Company List to Include Alibaba, BYD, Baidu

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has expanded its list of Chinese military-linked companies to include several prominent non-state-owned businesses, such as tech giant Alibaba, electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, and search engine Baidu. The updated list, published Monday, now sanctions 188 Chinese entities, up from roughly 130 last year, reflecting growing U.S.

concerns over Beijing's strategy of leveraging civilian companies for military purposes.

The list, created by a congressional mandate in 2021, targets companies that the Pentagon believes have ties to the Chinese military—not only those directly controlled by the People's Liberation Army but also those contributing to China's defense industrial base. The Pentagon stated that Alibaba, BYD, and Baidu are affiliated with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which oversees technology and industrial policies.

Alibaba is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, while BYD is a dominant player in the global electric vehicle market.

Other additions include Chinese robotics company Unitree, known for its dancing robots that appeared on NBC's "America's Got Talent." The Pentagon said Unitree knowingly received government assistance through its designation as a highly innovative small or medium-sized enterprise critical to China's supply chain.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington condemned the move, accusing the U.S. of "overstretching the concept of national security and making discriminatory lists to go after Chinese companies." The embassy stated that Chinese companies comply with local laws and called for a fair, non-discriminatory environment.

While companies on the list can still operate in the U.S., they face reputational damage and potential additional restrictions. The Pentagon's action comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations over technology, trade, and national security.

President Donald Trump had previously expressed openness to Chinese carmakers like BYD building plants in the U.S., but some lawmakers are pushing for a ban on Chinese electric vehicles.

Alibaba, BYD, Baidu, and Unitree did not immediately respond to requests for comment.