Get the latest tech news

The US just added Tencent — which backs US startups — to its list of ‘Chinese military’ companies

While the Chinese internet giant Tencent is best-known for its super-app WeChat, it’s also a major investor in U.S. tech companies and startups. Some of

The listing serves as a warning from the U.S. about companies it claims are involved in Chinese “military-civil fusion” efforts, according to a 2022 DoD press release. Tencent is strongly refuting the listing, telling TechCrunch it is “clearly a mistake” and “we are not a military company or supplier.” The Defense Department didn’t respond to a request for comment. If Tencent isn’t able to get itself off the list – like smartphone maker Xiaomi successfully did in 2021 – it could harm its investing activities in the US, with founders wary of accepting funds from a company officially designated as linked to the Chinese military, even without public evidence.

Get the Android app