The Pentagon expands its list of Chinese firms designated as “Chinese military companies” operating in the United States, a move tied to growing US-China strategic and economic competition. In a Federal Register notice scheduled for publication, the US Department of Defence updates the Section 1260H blacklist, which is used to restrict access to certain US investments, technology and government contracts. Companies added in the latest update include Alibaba, Baidu and carmaker BYD, along with other businesses such as WuXi AppTec, robot firm Unitree and carmaker Nio. The notice also removes some Chinese companies that are no longer operating in the United States. Legal experts quoted in reporting say the designation can increase reputational risks for major Chinese technology firms and may lead to further curbs on access to US investment. The list is updated annually, and the newest changes continue to broaden a tool Washington has been using to limit China’s engagement with US capital and technology channels. Separate coverage notes the list currently contains hundreds of entries, reflecting the scale of the update.