Chinese tech companies Tencent, CATL and others protest US listings as army-linked companies

The U.S. Defense Department has added major Chinese technology companies including gaming and technology company Tencent, artificial intelligence firm SenseTime and the world’s biggest battery maker CATL to its list of companies it says have ties to China’s military. Tencent said Tuesday that it would initiate moves to “correct this mistake.” CATL also denied having any ties with the People's Liberation Army. The U.S. Defense Department updates its list of companies affiliated with China's military annually. With the latest revision it includes 134 companies. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 bans the U.S. Department of Defense from dealing with the designated companies beginning in June 2026.