Xiaomi Denies Ties to Chinese Military Amid US Push
BEIJING – Xiaomi has denied U.S. lawmakers’ request to add the company to the Pentagon’s Section 1260H list. The company called the move “baseless.”
Xiaomi said it is not a Chinese military company and has no ties to any military entities. Its products and services are only for civilian and commercial use.
This statement comes after nine Republican lawmakers, including several congressional committee chairs, sent an open letter urging U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to add over a dozen Chinese technology firms to the Pentagon’s Section 1260H list. Besides Xiaomi, the letter mentioned AI start-up DeepSeek and humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree.
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The proposed list of companies spans multiple sectors, including biotech, life sciences, artificial intelligence, embodied AI, and semiconductor development. While the Section 1260H designation does not immediately impose economic sanctions, it serves as an advisory warning to U.S. businesses and government agencies about potential reputational and security risks when engaging with listed firms.
Xiaomi’s Past Legal Challenges in the U.S.
This is not Xiaomi’s first encounter with U.S. restrictions. In early 2021, the Department of Defense labeled Xiaomi a “Communist Chinese Military Company” (CCMC). Xiaomi quickly challenged the classification in court and successfully had its name removed from the list later that year.
Other Chinese technology firms have faced similar scrutiny. For example, drone manufacturer DJI also filed legal actions against the U.S. Department of Defense over comparable designations, highlighting ongoing tensions in U.S.-China tech relations.
Pentagon’s Section 1260H List Explained
The Section 1260H list identifies companies the Pentagon believes have connections to China’s military. Inclusion on the list signals caution for U.S. entities but does not automatically trigger trade sanctions. Historically, the list has been a tool for monitoring Chinese companies in sensitive technology sectors.
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Analysts say that such measures reflect growing concerns in Washington about the intersection of civilian technology companies and China’s military capabilities. U.S. lawmakers have increasingly pushed for stricter scrutiny of Chinese tech companies operating internationally, especially in areas such as AI, robotics, and semiconductor manufacturing.
Responses from Other Companies and Officials
As of Tuesday, neither DeepSeek, Unitree, nor the Pentagon had responded to requests for comment. Industry observers note that the U.S. government is increasingly focused on regulating technology linked to national security, which may lead to further reviews of Chinese firms operating in civilian markets.
Xiaomi, meanwhile, continues to expand its portfolio of consumer electronics, including smartphones, electric vehicles, smart home devices, and IoT products, maintaining a clear distinction from military applications.
Implications for US-China Tech Relations
The renewed push to include Xiaomi on the Pentagon’s military list underscores the ongoing tension between the U.S. and China in the technology sector. Analysts suggest that further political pressure could affect Chinese tech firms’ operations in U.S. markets and influence global supply chains.
Xiaomi’s insistence on its civilian-focused operations and its past legal victories may serve as key factors in determining whether the company faces any renewed U.S. restrictions. For now, the dispute remains part of a broader U.S. strategy to assess and mitigate perceived national security risks from foreign technology companies.
