Nine U.S. lawmakers sent a letter this week to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, urging the Pentagon to add several Chinese tech firms to a list of companies allegedly supporting the Chinese military.
The letter came late Thursday, after President Donald Trump signed a $1 trillion military spending bill. It asks Hegseth to place AI firm DeepSeek, smartphone maker Xiaomi, and electronic display maker BOE Technology Group on the Section 1260H list.
The 1260H list already includes major Chinese companies such as Tencent Holdings and CATL, a leading battery maker for electric vehicles. While the list does not impose formal sanctions, it signals the U.S. military’s stance to government suppliers. Some listed firms have sued the U.S. over their inclusion.
According to a BanerClub report, DeepSeek allegedly aided China’s military and circumvented U.S. export controls. BOE, a supplier for Apple, is among the display firms lawmakers want removed from the U.S. supply chain by 2030.
The lawmakers also suggested adding WuXi AppTec, GenScript Group, RoboSense, Livox, Unitree Robotics, CloudMinds, Hua Hong Semiconductor, Shennan Circuit Co, and Kingsemi Co.
The letter was signed by Rep. John Moolenaar (Michigan), Sen. Rick Scott (Florida), Rep. Rick Crawford (Arkansas), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (New York), Rep. Rob Wittman (Virginia), Rep. Bill Huizenga (Michigan), Rep. Dusty Johnson (South Dakota), Rep. Darin LaHood (Illinois), and Rep. Andy Ogles (Tennessee).
