The US said technology giant Tencent cooperates with the Chinese military
The United States has added several Chinese technology companies, including gaming and social media giant Tencent and battery maker CATL, to its list of businesses it says cooperate with the military. China.
The list serves as a warning to American companies and organizations about the risks of doing business with Chinese entities.
While the inclusion does not mean an immediate ban, it could put more pressure on the US Treasury to sanction the companies.
Tencent and CATL have denied involvement with the Chinese military, while Beijing said the decision was “unjustifiable repression of Chinese companies”.
The Department of Defense (DOD) list of Chinese military companies, also known as the Section 1260H list, is updated annually and currently includes 134 companies.
This is part of Washington’s approach to counter what it sees as Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its military using technology from Chinese companies, universities and research programs. China.
Responding to the latest announcement, Tencent, which owns the WeChat messaging app, said its inclusion on the list was “obviously a mistake”.
A company spokesperson told the BBC: “We are not a company or a military supplier. Unlike sanctions or export controls, the list does not affect business operations.” our business”.
CATL also called the designation a mistake and said it “does not engage in any military-related activities.”
“The US actions violate the principles of market competition and international economic and trade rules that it has always supported,” said Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington. , while weakening the confidence of foreign companies to invest and operate in the United States.” .
The Pentagon has been under pressure from US lawmakers to add several companies, including CATL, to the list.
This pressure comes when US auto manufacturing giant Ford said it will invest $2 billion to build a battery factory in Michigan. They said they plan to license the technology from CATL.
Ford did not immediately respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
This announcement comes in a context where the relationship between the world’s two largest economies remains tense.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who previously took a tough stance on Beijing, will return to the White House this month.
The Pentagon was sued last year by drone maker DJI and lidar maker Hesai Technologies over their inclusion on the list. Both are still on the update list.
