Key facts
- The U.S. has released an updated list of Chinese companies it believes are aiding Beijing's military.
- Companies added include Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, CXMT, YMTC, WuXi AppTec, RoboSense Technology, and Unitree.
- The list supersedes a previous version from early 2025 and mirrors a withdrawn February list, with additions like CXMT and YMTC.
- While not imposing immediate sanctions, the designation will prohibit future U.S. government contracting and procurement with listed firms.
- The publication of the list could increase tensions between the U.S. and China amid ongoing competition.
The U.S. government has updated its list of major Chinese companies that it believes are supporting Beijing's military. The new list, released on Monday, includes prominent technology firms such as Alibaba, Baidu, and automaker BYD, along with memory chipmakers CXMT and YMTC, biotech firm WuXi AppTec, and robotics companies RoboSense Technology and Unitree.
This updated list supersedes a previous version from early 2025 and mirrors a withdrawn February list, with the exception of the inclusion of CXMT and YMTC, which had been removed from the earlier draft. The Pentagon stated that the listed firms "qualify for designation as 'Chinese military companies'" and operate in the United States, as required by law at least annually. Companies on the list can petition for removal.
While the designation does not impose immediate sanctions, it will prevent the Pentagon from contracting and procuring from these companies in the coming years. The publication of the list is expected to heighten tensions between the U.S. and China, which are engaged in significant economic and geopolitical competition. Some companies, including two entities owned by China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), were removed from the list, though a CNOOC subsidiary was added.