Tencent Considers Legal Action Against the United States

Tencent, the prominent Chinese tech and entertainment company, has stated it might pursue legal action against the United States following its unexpected inclusion on a list of military-affiliated companies.

In a message aimed at reassuring investors, Tencent clarified that it has no ties to the Chinese military. The company expressed its belief that its placement on the Chinese Military Companies (CMC) list was an error.

Ma Huateng, the chair of the board, emphasized, “Since the company is neither a Chinese military organization nor involved in military-civil fusion with the Chinese defense sector, we are convinced that being on the CMC List is a mistake.”

Shedding light on the matter, Ma pointed out that, “Unlike other U.S. Government lists used for sanctions or export controls, being on the CMC List specifically relates to U.S. defense procurement. This, in turn, doesn’t impact the group’s business operations.”

Tencent plans to initiate a Reconsideration Process to rectify this situation. Throughout this process, it aims to engage in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense to clear up any miscommunications. If required, Tencent is prepared to take legal action to ensure its removal from the list. The company has promised to provide further updates as necessary.