A US judge has ruled that the Pentagon cannot classify Alibaba as a Chinese military company for lobbying restrictions, following a lawsuit by the retailer. The decision temporarily prevents the DoD from barring companies from hiring lobbyists representing Alibaba.
Alibaba has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, demanding removal from the list of 'Chinese military companies.' The tech giant argues the designation lacks factual and legal basis, harms its reputation, and impacts its US business relationships. This follows a similar lawsuit by Chinese biotech firm WuXi AppTec and highlights escalating US-China tech competition.
Alibaba has filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Defense, contesting its designation as a "Chinese military company." The e-commerce giant argues the label lacks factual basis and seeks its removal from the Pentagon's blacklist, which restricts companies from contracting with the DoD.
The US Department of Defense has designated 54 Chinese companies, including tech giants Alibaba and Baidu, as "Chinese military companies." The designation, effective June 30, bars the Pentagon from procuring from these firms, though immediate operational impact is expected to be limited as most do not directly sell to the US military. Several companies, including Baidu and Alibaba, have disputed the designation.
