Alibaba sues Pentagon over 'Chinese Military' label

Chinese tech and e-commerce giant Alibaba sued Pentagon also known as the U.S. Department of Defence for designations including saying it was a "Chinese military company," according to a court filing on Tuesday.

"The determinations have no basis in fact or law," Alibaba said in its lawsuit. "Alibaba is governed by an independent board, none of whom has any military affiliation."

The U.S. government included Alibaba on a list of companies it considers linked to China’s military. This designation does not mean the company is accused of running military operations, but it signals that U.S. authorities believe it may have connections to China’s defense or security ecosystem.

The company said, "Its products and services are built for retail, logistics, and enterprise information ‌technology—not weapons, defense, or intelligence."

It comes as the United States in June added Alibaba, internet search provider Baidu and automakers BYD and NIO to a list of companies it believes are aiding Beijing's military.