A US federal judge temporarily blocks the Pentagon from enforcing a designation that labels WuXi AppTec as a “Chinese military company.” The order provides short-term relief to the major pharmaceutical contractor while the company’s legal challenge is considered.
According to multiple outlets, the judge grants a preliminary injunction preventing the Defense Department from enforcing or giving effect to the designation during the lawsuit. Bloomberg and NDTV report that the court finds the government lacks sufficient support for the decision, while the South China Morning Post adds that the judge concludes defence officials repeatedly misread evidence used to justify the label. NDTV and CNA also report that WuXi disputes the basis for the decision, describing it as unsupported and influenced by political pressure.
The case reflects broader US-China tensions around export controls and national-security screening, where companies tied—directly or indirectly—to military or military-linked entities can face restrictions. The temporary ruling does not resolve the underlying lawsuit, and the Pentagon’s designation remains in dispute pending further court proceedings.
