U.S. Briefly Posts, Then Withdraws Updated List of Chinese Firms Allegedly Tied to Military

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (GeokHub) — The United States briefly published — and then withdrew — an updated list of Chinese companies alleged to support Beijing’s military, adding major technology players before pulling the document from public view.

The revised list, posted for roughly an hour, reportedly included firms such as Alibaba and Baidu, two of China’s most prominent digital and AI-focused enterprises.

Pentagon Pulls Notice Without Explanation

A letter from the Pentagon requested that the notice be removed from public inspection and withdrawn from publication in the Federal Register. No detailed explanation was provided.

The temporary version of the document also reportedly removed leading Chinese memory chipmakers CXMT and YMTC, prompting criticism from U.S. lawmakers concerned about China’s expanding chipmaking capabilities.

Additional Companies Named

Other firms included in the withdrawn update were electric vehicle giant BYD, biotech company WuXi AppTec, and robotics technology firm RoboSense Technology.

The Pentagon’s list does not automatically trigger sanctions. However, under U.S. law, government agencies will eventually be restricted from contracting with or procuring from companies designated on the list. Inclusion can also influence broader federal procurement decisions and signal elevated national security scrutiny.

Policy Shift Amid Trade Truce

The development comes as the administration of Donald Trump has sought to stabilize relations with China following a trade truce reached in October with Xi Jinping.

Since then, the administration has taken steps viewed by some as less confrontational, including allowing Nvidia to export certain advanced AI chips to China and delaying rules that would have restricted thousands of Chinese firms from accessing U.S. technology.

The rapid publication and withdrawal of the list has fueled debate in Washington over whether policy coordination issues or strategic recalibration are behind the move.

Legal and Industry Reactions

An Alibaba spokesperson reportedly rejected any characterization linking the company to China’s military, describing its inclusion as unfounded and signaling potential legal action.

The Pentagon’s list already includes major Chinese firms such as Tencent Holdings and battery manufacturer CATL.

Policy analysts suggest the withdrawal may reflect interagency review processes rather than a full reversal. Still, the episode underscores the sensitivity of technology competition between Washington and Beijing.