A California judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Defense from enforcing a lobbying ban on Alibaba, allowing the company to communicate with the Pentagon while its constitutional challenge to the restriction is considered.
Alibaba Group Holding has sued the US Department of Defence to be removed from a blacklist of companies supporting China's military. The tech giant claims the Pentagon's action violated constitutional due process and free speech rights.
The US Indo-Pacific Command has reverted to its former name, US Pacific Command, a move seen as a signal to deter China and focus on the Western Pacific. While the Pentagon states operational impact is negligible, the command's vast area of responsibility and mission remain unchanged, with Taiwan's security a key concern.
The Pentagon has added major Chinese tech firms including Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, and WuXi AppTec to its "Chinese military companies" blacklist under Section 1260H. This expansion, bringing the total to 188 entities, increases reputational risks and raises concerns about future US investment restrictions, impacting investor sentiment and stock prices.
Eight major technology companies including Google, Nvidia, SpaceX, OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Oracle and AI start-up Reflection have signed agreements with the Pentagon to deploy their AI technology on classified networks for military use. The deals aim to establish the US military as an AI-first fighting force. However, some tech workers have raised concerns about AI applications for autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. Anthropic clashed with the Pentagon earlier this year over safeguards, leading to a legal battle after the Trump administration banned federal use of its tools.
Anthony Albanese has confirmed Meghan Quinn will be the first female secretary of the Department of Defence, calling her a "standout candidate". Follow live.
