Логотип Tencent / Depositphotos
The US Department of Defense has updated its blacklist of companies linked to the Chinese military, adding gaming giant Tencent, the world’s largest manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles CATL, as well as companies such as HangXin Memory Technologies, Quectel Wireless, and drone maker Autel Robotics.
All companies are suspected of assisting or sponsoring the Chinese military. Last month, the list was expanded to include DJI and Hesai Technologies, although both immediately filed lawsuits.
“Although this list does not imply an immediate ban, it can damage the reputation of the companies and is a stern warning to legal entities and US firms about the risks of doing business with them,” according to the Nikkei Asia report.
Both Tencent and CATL deny the accusations stated in the US Department of Defense report.
Tencent is one of the biggest names in the video game industry. The company owns shares in over 600 companies, including some of the biggest game publishers—partially owning Epic Games, Larian Studios, FromSoftware, and Ubisoft, while fully owning creators of League of Legends Riot Games and creators of Path of Exile Grinding Gear Games.
The US government has targeted Tencent before: before leaving office in 2020, President Donald Trump issued an order prohibiting American companies from investing in organizations linked to the Chinese military. This order also led to the prohibition of all transactions in the Tencent WeChat app.
“We are not a military company or supplier,” said a Tencent spokesperson in a comment to The Verge. “Unlike sanctions or export controls, this list does not affect our business. However, we will work with the Department of Defense to resolve any misunderstandings.”
CATL representative Fred Zhang also stated that this inclusion was a “mistake,” adding that “CATL does not engage in any military activity.”