Beijing is strongly pushing back against the US for expanding its list of Chinese companies allegedly linked to China’s military. On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun condemned Washington’s move, calling on the US to immediately correct its actions and lift its “illegal unilateral sanctions.”
The recent additions to the list include tech giants Tencent, known for social media and gaming, and CATL, the global leader in battery production. While these designations do not immediately impose bans, they tarnish the companies’ reputations and send a message to US businesses about the potential risks of collaborating with them. The US Department of Defense’s annual update now includes 134 companies accused of supporting China’s military agenda.
Both Tencent and CATL have denied any ties to the People’s Liberation Army, with Tencent calling the move a “mistake” and stating that the designation will not affect their operations. Beijing decried the US’s actions, labeling them as unfair suppression of Chinese businesses, and pledged to take measures to protect the rights of Chinese companies.
The ongoing US-China tech rivalry is intensifying as both nations push forward with measures impacting the global tech landscape. With Beijing’s recent export restrictions on essential minerals for the electric vehicle industry and the US’s export controls on semiconductors, the battle for technological dominance between the two superpowers continues to heat up.
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