Tencent, the prominent player in China’s tech and entertainment sectors, has announced it is considering legal action against the United States following its inclusion in a list that tags military-related companies.
Through a statement directed at its investors, Tencent emphasized its lack of ties to the Chinese military. The company firmly believes that its appearance on the Chinese Military Companies (CMC) list is erroneous.
“We are not a Chinese military company, nor do we contribute to the military-civil fusion within China’s defense industrial sphere. We view our inclusion in the CMC List as a clear mistake,” explained Ma Huateng, the board chair.
Ma further clarified that the CMC List is distinct from other U.S. government lists that impose sanctions or export restrictions. The primary focus here is U.S. defense procurement, which does not influence the group’s business operations.
The company plans to kick off a Reconsideration Process to rectify this error. During this time, Tencent aims to engage with the U.S. Department of Defense to clarify any misconceptions. If needed, the company is prepared to pursue legal channels to ensure its removal from the CMC List. They have promised to keep stakeholders updated with announcements as situations develop.
