US Pentagon Withdraws Controversial China Military-Linked Companies List Hours After Release
List briefly expanded to include major tech and manufacturing firms, then withdrawn amid procedural and diplomatic considerations.
Washington, Feb 14 : The United States on Friday briefly published an updated list of Chinese companies it alleges are linked to Beijing’s military, only to retract it within an hour. The withdrawn list had added major firms including Alibaba, Baidu, electric vehicle maker BYD, biotech company WuXi AppTec, and robotics firm RoboSense Technology, while removing top memory chipmakers CXMT and YMTC.
The Pentagon did not provide an explanation for the retraction, which comes at a sensitive moment in US-China relations ahead of a possible visit by President Donald Trump to China in April.
Although inclusion on the Pentagon’s list does not automatically trigger sanctions, it bars the Department of Defense from contracting with listed firms in the future and signals concerns about links to China’s armed forces. Several companies, including Alibaba, have rejected the designation, with Alibaba stating it is not involved in China’s military or military-civil fusion strategies and may consider legal action.
Experts suggest the withdrawal may be procedural. Chris McGuire, a former White House National Security Council official, noted that removing CXMT and YMTC may have been an error, given their strategic importance in China’s chip industry. Eric Sayers, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said the episode likely relates to interagency review and sign-off on some company removals.
The brief expansion and subsequent retraction occur amid signs of a softer US approach toward Beijing, including easing AI chip export restrictions and pausing proposed limits on Chinese technology firms. President Trump’s anticipated visit to China in April adds further context to the timing of the episode.
The list continues to include major Chinese companies such as Tencent Holdings and battery manufacturer CATL, reflecting ongoing Pentagon scrutiny of firms considered strategically linked to China’s military.
