Tencent considers potential legal action against the United States

Tencent, the Chinese powerhouse in technology and entertainment, has announced it might pursue legal action against the United States following its addition to a list of military-affiliated companies. This decision was shared with investors, where Tencent emphasized its lack of any ties to the Chinese military. The company believes its inclusion on the Chinese Military Companies (CMC) list is a clear oversight.

Ma Huateng, the company’s chairman, expressed in a statement that Tencent is neither a Chinese military entity nor a contributor to any military-civil fusion efforts in China’s defense sector. “We firmly believe our inclusion on the CMC List is erroneous,” he stated, underscoring their non-involvement.

Addressing concerns about potential implications, Ma clarified that being on the CMC List specifically pertains to U.S. defense procurement and does not impact Tencent’s business operations. Unlike other U.S. government lists that handle sanctions or export restrictions, this particular list isn’t expected to disrupt Tencent’s dealings.

To address this matter, the company plans to initiate a Reconsideration Process aimed at rectifying the situation. In this process, Tencent will engage with the U.S. Department of Defense to iron out any misinterpretations. Should discussions not lead to a satisfactory outcome, Tencent is prepared to take legal measures to ensure it is removed from the list. The company assured stakeholders that ongoing updates will be provided as developments unfold.