The Pentagon has significantly expanded its list of Chinese military-linked companies, adding 188 firms in its largest expansion to date. The update targets prominent household names far beyond the defense sector, including e-commerce company Alibaba, internet search provider Baidu, automaker BYD, WuXi AppTec and Unitree.
This designation prevents the flagged businesses from securing U.S. defense contracts and warns American firms of the risks associated with working with these companies. The U.S. government believes these entities are aiding Beijing's military.
The updated list supersedes a previous version from early 2025. It comes less than a month after Donald Trump met China's Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing, where the leaders maintained a delicate trade war truce. A similar expanded list had been briefly posted in February but was withdrawn without explanation before Trump's China trip.
The Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, has condemned the designation, calling it discriminatory. The move could further inflame tensions between the two countries.