Alibaba Sues Pentagon Over China Military Blacklist

Chinese technology and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defence, demanding removal from a blacklist that labels it as a Chinese military company. In its legal filing, Alibaba argues that the Pentagon’s action violated constitutional guarantees of due process and the company’s right to free speech.

Pentagon's June 9 Designation

On June 9, the US Department of Defence added Alibaba, along with several other prominent Chinese firms, to its list of “Chinese military companies.” The list includes electric vehicle manufacturers BYD and Nio, search engine Baidu, robotics company Unitree Robotics, networking equipment maker TP-Link, as well as companies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and the solar sector. Alibaba noted in its filing that it owns the South China Morning Post.

High-Stakes Tech Competition

The companies targeted are predominantly in sectors central to the intensifying technological rivalry between China and the United States. Alibaba’s lawsuit contends that the Pentagon’s classification lacks evidence and seeks to have the company removed from the blacklist. The case highlights ongoing tensions over trade, technology, and national security between the two global powers.

The source for this article is https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3358113/alibaba-sues-pentagon-over-china-military-blacklist.