A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Senator Rick Scott, formally requested the Department of Defense (DoD) add Alibaba Group to its list of companies tied to the Chinese military. The request aims to highlight Alibaba’s alleged affiliations with China’s military forces.
Inclusion would place Alibaba alongside major Chinese firms such as Tencent.
Listing Alibaba does not trigger automatic formal sanctions. However, the designation serves as a significant warning to U.S. entities and suppliers regarding engagement risks.
The lawmakers’ letter also targeted other major Chinese tech companies, signaling escalating scrutiny from Washington. Alibaba has not yet issued a public comment on the request.