Individuals and political committees affiliated with the US Democratic Party have received millions of dollars in donations from senior employees at Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD, companies identified by the Pentagon as "Chinese military companies."
Based on campaign finance records, executives, lawyers, lobbyists, and some employees working at these three companies have contributed approximately $2.6 million to Democratic political entities since 2020.
Largest Donations Went to Biden-Linked Organizations
The investigation found that committees and joint fundraising vehicles connected to President Biden received about $850,000 from employees of these companies between 2020 and 2024. The Democratic National Committee raised roughly $500,000 during the same period, while committees linked to Vice President Harris received about $140,000.
Among the Democratic figures involved are Senator Adam Schiff, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Joe Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Democratic National Committee.
The Pentagon’s List and the Status of the Companies
On June 8, the Pentagon added Alibaba, Baidu, and BYD to its list of "Chinese military companies." According to the US administration, these companies support the People's Liberation Army through military-civil fusion strategies or other means.
However, inclusion on the 1260H list does not constitute a traditional sanction. Americans can continue to do business with these companies. The list aims to warn American companies and investors about firms linked to China’s military apparatus.
New defense regulations are making the list more effective. Starting June 30, the Pentagon will be prohibited from contracting directly with companies on the list. Additionally, contracts with firms lobbying on behalf of these companies are banned. By 2027, this rule is expected to expand to cover indirect purchases through the supply chain.
Past Connections of the Companies Have Fueled the Debate
Allegations that Alibaba has supported surveillance activities in China have been reported for years. The company denies being a "Chinese military company" and argues that labeling it as part of the military-civil fusion strategy is unfounded.
BYD has also been linked in past reports to close ties with the Chinese government. Its founder and CEO, Wang Chuanfu, is a member of the Chinese Communist Party and is seen as close to Xi Jinping. BYD did not respond to requests for comment on these reports.
Regarding Baidu, it has been noted that China’s science and technology institutions consider the company part of the "national team" in artificial intelligence development, and state media have associated the company with censorship practices. A Baidu spokesperson denied military connection claims and stated they will use all legal options to be removed from the list.
Democratic figures were contacted for comment on the donations but did not respond by the time of publication.
The Pentagon announced that the latest version of the 1260H list includes 188 entities that meet the legal criteria.
