The United States has officially expanded its sanctions list of Chinese corporations by adding three of the largest technological and industrial giants: Alibaba, BYD, and Baidu. This decision by Washington threatens these brands' access to the American market and government contracts, signaling a hardline course in trade and political confrontation.
Growth of the List and New Targets
The Pentagon has updated the list of Chinese companies deemed to support the interests of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The list now includes 188 firms from the PRC. For comparison, in 2025, only 134 companies were listed. Among the already known participants in the "blacklist" are telecommunications giants Huawei and TP-Link.
The inclusion of Alibaba, BYD, and Baidu in this registry was a resonant event, as it concerns China's most recognizable commercial brands. The US Department of Defense justifies its actions by claiming that these firms "are owned or controlled by the Chinese military" and facilitate the implementation of Beijing's "military-civil fusion" strategy. Under this program, civilian and defense research are combined to enhance the country's military potential.
Consequences for Business
Although the list itself does not constitute direct economic sanctions, it often serves as the first step toward stricter measures. Companies placed on the list risk facing export controls and a complete federal ban on procurement by the US government. This means that government contracts become inaccessible to them, and commercial activities in the US may be significantly restricted.
Reaction from Beijing and Corporations
China reacted to Washington's actions instantly. The Chinese Embassy in the US called the decision discriminatory and emphasized that Chinese companies operating abroad strictly comply with the laws of the host countries. Beijing called on the US to stop the "wrong practice" of pressuring businesses.
The corporations also did not remain on the sidelines. A representative of Alibaba officially denied the accusations, stating: "We are not a Chinese military company and are not part of any military-civil fusion strategy. We will take all possible legal measures against attempts to mislead our company".
Expert Assessments and Global Context
The effectiveness of such broad measures is questioned by experts. Dennis Wilder, a national security specialist, notes that many American firms already have deep ties with these Chinese giants. In his opinion, without real penalties linked to commercial transactions, American companies will not voluntarily give up cooperation.
The situation is exacerbated by parallel processes in Europe. The EU plans to impose sanctions on Chinese companies that assist the Russian army. This list includes not only firms from Beijing but also from the UAE and Turkey. In response, China threatens reciprocal measures, calling the European "Made in Europe" law discriminatory.
Against the backdrop of global tension, the question of the dependence of other players remains. For example, the Ukrainian military-industrial complex cannot yet completely abandon Chinese components. China remains the most accessible market in terms of scale and delivery speed, although the possibility of reducing critical dependence in the future is being discussed.