The Defense Department has released a list of 134 Chinese companies operating in the U.S. that it believes are working to advance Beijing's military-strategic aims. The Pentagon revealed on Tuesday that 57 firms and 77 subsidiaries were operating 'directly or indirectly in the United States.'The updated list marks a sharp increase from the 73 firms reported last January, and features firms in aerospace, chemical engineering and information technology.
It includes smartphone maker Huawei Technologies, battery maker CATL and video game firm Tencent Holdings, China's largest company by market capitalization.Both Tencent and CATL have deemed the Defense Department's designation a 'mistake,' and threatened legal action. Huawei has been contacted for comment.Newsweek contacted the Department of Defense outside of business hours for comment on the list, the definition of 'military company,' and what measures will be taken, if any, against the companies. Defence officials said the expanded list serves to help the U.S. counter Beijing's Military-Civil Fusion strategy (MCF), described by the State Department as an 'aggressive national strategy' using technological advances to 'develop the People's Liberation Army (PLA) into a 'world class military' by 2049.' China's MCF strategy involves seemingly civilian enterprises undertaking research and development of military capabilities, and that 'joint research institutions, academia, and private firms are all being exploited to build the PLA's future military systems—often without their knowledge or consent,' according to the Defense Department. 'Under MCF, the CCP is acquiring the intellectual property, key research, and technological advances of the world's citizens, researchers, scholars, and private industry in order to advance the CCP's military aims,' the department said in a 2017 fact sheet
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US Adds Tencent, Other Chinese Firms to Military-Tied Companies ListThe U.S. Department of Defense has added prominent Chinese companies, including Tencent, SenseTime, and CATL, to its list of companies with ties to the Chinese military. This move is part of the U.S.'s ongoing effort to restrict the transfer of advanced technology to China, citing national security concerns. Tencent, the world's largest video gaming company, has expressed its intention to challenge this designation.
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