The US has expanded its list of Chinese companies it says aid Beijing's military, adding around two dozen new firms including tech giants Alibaba and Baidu.
The Pentagon updates its list annually, and this year's expansion underscores the US view that China leverages its private sector to build and improve military technology.
New additions include consumer and tech companies like electric carmaker BYD, pharmaceutical firm WuXi AppTec, and humanoid robotics company Unitree.
Alibaba and Baidu are among the companies that will face restrictions on their operations in the US.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson called the Pentagon's move 'overstretching the concept of national security'.
The list's release comes at a sensitive time for US-China relations, with the two countries still navigating trade tensions.
