The Chinese group Alibaba, one of the largest electronic technology traders in the world, the United States government, this Tuesday (June 23, 2026), after being included in a list of Chinese companies that the US Department of Defense linked to the country’s Armed Forces. The information is from . Read the initial petition (PDF – 258 kB, in English).
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Jose, California. On June 8, the Pentagon added 188 more companies to the list of “Chinese military companies” which, according to the government, they would serve as a means for China’s Armed Forces to explore the private sector in search of technological advances. Read the list (PDF – 227 kB, in English).
According to the US, Alibaba is a “military-civil fusion contributor to Chinese defense industrial base” through an affiliation with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The US government also alleges that the company has indirect links with SASAC, China’s state assets regulator.
Alibaba said the claims “have no basis in fact or law”and that its management is formed by an independent council that “has no connection with the Armed Forces“.
“[Os] products and services are aimed at retail, logistics and business information technology, not weapons, defense or intelligence. Labeling Alibaba as a Chinese military company is classifying it as an instrument of the Chinese military and a threat to US national security. This designation directly harms Alibaba’s reputation and casts a shadow over all of the company’s relationships with the US.”they stated.
According to the Reutersa Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the case, saying the agency does not discuss ongoing litigation.
Among the companies that made the list are Baidu, automakers BYD, NIO, and WuXi AppTec, which filed a similar lawsuit on June 11.
CHINA’S “RESPONSE”
In retaliation for the measures against its companies and to protect its strategic interests, China, last Monday (June 22, 2026), placed 10 US companies on its own export control list, prohibiting the sale of dual-use Chinese products (with civil and military applications) to these companies. The measure also prevents third parties from transferring these Chinese products to affected companies.
The decision mainly affects companies linked to defense, drones, military technology and rare earths, including manufacturers of military equipment and producers of strategic minerals, such as MP Materials e USA Rare Earth. The movement further increases commercial and technological tension between the 2 countries, showing that the Asian country intends to respond to new actions by the Americans with equivalent measures.
