The US Department of Defense Tuesday added 188 Chinese entities, including Baidu, Alibaba and BYD, to an updated list of Chinese military companies, a move strongly opposed by Chinese companies. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian on the 9th urged the U. S. side to correct the mistake, and said, “Resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese Enterprises.”.
Earlier on Monday, Baidu said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange that it did not believe it had a legitimate reason to be on the list because it is neither a Chinese military company nor a civil-military integration company in China’s defense industry. Baidu also said that the list of Chinese military enterprises is not a sanctions list. The restrictions on U.S. government procurement associated with the list do not affect the company’s business, and the Chinese defense list does not restrict trading in the company’s securities.
Alibaba on the 9th through the Hong Kong stock exchange issued a“Statement on being included in the list of Chinese military enterprises,” said Alibaba included in the list is a mistake, and there is no basis. Alibaba is not a Chinese defence company and is not involved in any civil-military integration strategy. We will take all possible legal action against any attempt to distort the image of our company.
Alibaba said the inclusion would not affect its normal operations in the US or globally because its business had nothing to do with US military procurement. The list does not impose additional export controls or sanctions, nor does it prohibit anyone other than the United States Department of Defense from doing business with the group or trading in the company’s securities.
The company noted that the U. S. Department of Defense had mistakenly included it in the updated list of“Chinese military enterprises,” the company said Monday morning. It is clearly wrong to include him in the updated list, and the so-called basis of the identification is wrong. He will take immediate measures to challenge and correct this wrong identification.
NIO issued a statement on the same day saying that there was no legitimate basis for its inclusion on the list of Chinese military enterprises. The group said it would actively communicate with the Pentagon to correct the listing, including taking legal action if necessary to safeguard the interests of the company and all shareholders.
BYD 9 evening in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange announcement that the company noted the U. S. Department of Defense to the company included in the“Chinese military enterprises” list. BYD believes the U. S. move is not justified, because the company is neither Chinese military enterprises, nor civil-military integration enterprises. The list is not a sanctions list and does not affect the normal business of the company or its dealings with anyone other than the United States Department of Defense. The relevant government procurement restrictions do not relate to the company’s business or restrict its securities trading.
BYD also said it will make further announcements in due course if it subsequently initiates a review process or takes legal action if necessary to remove the company from the list of Chinese defense companies.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on the afternoon of the 9th that China has always been firmly opposed to the side’s generalization of the concept of national security, setting up discriminatory lists under various names, and unjustifiably attacking Chinese enterprises. We urge the side to correct its wrong practices and stop its unwarranted suppression of Chinese companies. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.