Story perspectives

China Decries Pentagon Blacklist of Six Firms, Threatens Countermeasures

6/15/2026

Summary

China protests Pentagon

China’s Ministry of Commerce said it is dissatisfied with the U.S. Defense Department’s addition of Chinese firms to its list.
The Pentagon update added Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, NIO, Trina Solar and JA Solar Technology.
China’s foreign ministry said the move ignored the consensus reached by President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.
Beijing warned it will inevitably take decisive countermeasures if its firms are not treated fairly.

Summary

Pentagon Lists Firms

The Pentagon placed BYD, Alibaba and Baidu on its military-company list, though the firms say no basis exists for the designation.
At a mid-May Beijing summit, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping pledged expanded economic ties, including more U.S. agricultural purchases and Boeing jet sales to China.
They also agreed to set up separate trade and investment boards, with the U.S. decision to list the firms following those agreements.

Summary

Trump invites Xi

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that President Xi Jinping will be invited to a visit in Washington in September.
Intelligence agencies of Britain, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand warned that China is using LinkedIn and Indeed to obtain classified information.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States must keep strategic stability with China while countering security threats.
Trump signaled a possible delay of a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan.

Summary

Pentagon Expands Blacklist

On June 13, 2026 the Pentagon issued an updated Section 1260H blacklist naming 188 Chinese entities, up from 134 the year before.
The revision fulfills a legal mandate requiring the Defense Department to publish an annual list of firms tied to foreign militaries.
By adding dozens of technology and industrial firms, the list expands the pool of companies subject to secondary-sanction restrictions that could affect third-party contracts after 2027.

History

Historical Context

After the U.S. Department of Commerce added Huawei and 70 affiliates to the Entity List on 15 May 2019, American firms were barred from supplying the company. That restriction, part of a broader security push that also barred ZTE, set a precedent for the 2024 expansion of Section 1260H, which now targets dozens of Chinese technology firms. The pattern reflects ongoing U.S. efforts to contain perceived military-linked tech.

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China protests Pentagon

China’s Ministry of Commerce said it is dissatisfied with the U.S. Defense Department’s addition of Chinese firms to its list.
The Pentagon update added Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, NIO, Trina Solar and JA Solar Technology.
China’s foreign ministry said the move ignored the consensus reached by President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.
Beijing warned it will inevitably take decisive countermeasures if its firms are not treated fairly.

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