Pentagon labels tech giant Alibaba and car maker BYD as aiding Chinese military

The Pentagon’s updated list designates Alibaba, BYD, and Baidu as aiding the Chinese military, barring them from U.S. defense contracts. The list now names 188 Chinese entities, up from roughly 130 last year, and includes non-state firms tied to Beijing’s defense-industrial base. The designation reflects concern that Beijing leverages civilian technologies, universities, and research programs to bolster its military. While a listed company can still do business in the U.S., it faces reputational damage and potential further restrictions. China’s embassy denounced the move as discriminatory. Alibaba and Baidu rejected military ties, while BYD was described as affiliated with the ministry overseeing China’s technology and industry. The update drew comments from the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, which urged delisting of publicly traded entities and warned against doing business with those on the list to avoid aiding China’s military ascent.